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THE  FOURTH  PHYSICIAN 


Ol>  cou'se  dere  am  all  sohts  oh  doctahs,"  Hilary  explained. 

I   Page 


The  Fourth  Physician 


A  CHRISTMAS 
STORY 


BY 

MONTGOMERY  PICKETT 

Illustrated  br 
GORDON    STEVENSON 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 
1911 


Copyright  1911 
A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO 


Published  September,  1911 


Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London,  England 


The  Culon  Pren 
Chicago 


TO  ONE  WHO  WATCHED  BY  NIGHT 


The  Fourth  Physician 
i 

WHEN     CALENDAR    BED- 
FORD reached  the  age  of  sixty, 
it  was  published  widely  that  he 
had  retired  from  business ;  he  had  done  more 
than  that  —  he  had  quit.    His  was  not  the 
usual  case  of  a  year  of  tiresome  globe  trot- 
ting followed  by  a  summer  consecrated  to 
golf,  then  into  the  harness  again.    He  had 
something  to  do. 

Here  and  there  may  be  found  a  man  who 
knows  how  to  round  out  his  life  ripely,  ma- 
turely, as  October  rather  than  December 
should  complete  the  year.  Bedford  had  dis- 
covered that  the  City  of  Leisure  is  more  ab- 
sorbing than  the  City  of  Industry,  if  one  but 
knows  the  game.  It  was  all  simple  enough: 
most  of  the  so-called  "classes"  of  society 
might  be  found  within  walking  distance  of 

7 


The  Fourth  Physician 

his  home  on  the  Drive.  Just  now  he  was 
back  in  Virginia  —  at  least,  Hilary  Brooks, 
the  negro  house-servant  he  had  brought 
North  with  him,  mourned  him  as  there.  It 
was  the  first  Christmas  Eve  in  forty  years 
that  he  and  "Marse  Calendah"  had  not 
spent  together,  and  he  hoped  it  would  be  the 
last.  All  morning  the  old  man  had  been 
decorating  the  living-room  with  holly  and 
balsam  boughs,  not  forgetting  to  add  a  spray 
of  mistletoe  where  suitable  head-room  could 
be  had.  Now  that  he  had  nearly  finished, 
doubts  arose  in  his  mind  as  to  whether  his 
efforts  were  worth  while.  True,  "Little 
Miss,"  otherwise  Elizabeth  Bedford,  had  re- 
mained at  home,  but  even  that  left  the  ques- 
tion debatable. 

He  was  a  real  man,  this  aged  negro,  with 
very  dark  skin  and  snow-white  hair.  If 
asked  his  age,  he  was  likely  to  answer  eva- 
sively, and  then  to  recall  an  event  that  dig- 
nified his  childhood,  when  "jes*  foh  er 


The  Fourth  Physician 

minute  "  he  had  been  permitted  to  hold  in  his 
little  black  arms  the  new  master  of  the  Bed- 
ford house,  all  done  up  in  long,  white  baby 
clothes.  As  he  could  remember  nothing 
that  had  happened  prior  to  that  impressive 
occasion  it  was  clear  to  him  that  he  must 
have  been  about  five  years  older  than  Marse 
Calendah  and  hence  "gwine  on  ter  sebenty 
now."  Loyalty  and  devotion  were  qualities 
that  Bedford  gave  and  accepted  without 
much  thought  —  they  were  requisite  to 
friendship.  It  was  his  childlike  and  bound- 
less faith,  underlying  a  kindly,  sunny  nature 
that  made  him  love  his  former  slave. 

Everybody  else,  including  her  father,  real- 
ized that  Elizabeth  had  become  a  young 
woman, — to  Hilary  she  remained  "ouah 
mothahless  little  girl."  On  this  particular 
afternoon,  as  she  stepped  into  the  living- 
room  he  was  humming  softly  an  old  melody, 
for  all  of  his  regret  that  the  head  of  the  fam- 
ily had  seen  fit  to  absent  himself  at  the  most 

9 


The  Fourth  Physician 

important  time  of  the  year.  He  was  putting 
"  de  finishin'  teches  "  on  his  morning's  work. 

"It  is  lovely,  Uncle  Hilary!"  she  com- 
mented, glancing  around  approvingly. 
"  How  did  you  manage  it  so  quickly? " 

"  Old  niggah  step  lively,  Chris 'mus -time ! 
Ah'se  had  er  lot  ob  dealin's  wid  Santy 
Claus ! "  He  ascended  the  step-ladder  slowly 
and  straightened  a  cluster  of  mistletoe  hang- 
ing from  the  chandelier.  His  face  took  on 
a  shade  of  anxiety  as  he  looked  down  upon 
Elizabeth,  who  had  seated  herself  at  a  desk. 
When  presently  she  glanced  up,  he  was  care- 
ful to  resume  his  most  cheerful  expression. 

"Ah'se  of 'en  wondahed  whah  dis  heah 
mistletoe  deribe  hits  title  —  mos'  likely  hits 
name'  foh  some  ob  ouah  old  famblies  back 
in  Virginnyl  Ef  sech  de  case,  dat  fambly 
sho'ly  share  in  de  honah  ob  de  gran'  ole 
State!" 

Elizabeth  smiled  encouragingly. 

"Ef  Ah  hadn't  been  er  ministah  ob  de 

10 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Gawspil  fob  ser  many  yeahs,  an'  on  dat 
ercount  s'posed  ter  know  ever'thing,  Ah  sut- 
tinly  would  er  arsked  befo'  dis ! " 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  now? " 

"Does  you  know  whah  hit  deribe  hits 
name?"  he  inquired  with  caution. 

"  No,  Uncle  Hilary, "  she  admitted  laugh- 
ingly, "  I've  often  wondered  myself." 

"Dat's  de  way  hit  go!"  And  he 
shook  his  head  in  simulated  discourage- 
ment. "When  er  pusson  ob  age  an'  'speri- 
ence  do  humiliate  hisse'f  by  arskin'  questions, 
he  don'  nevah  learn  nuffin! "  He  patted  the 
mistletoe  caressingly  and  descended.  Eliza- 
beth was  standing  at  the  fireplace  in  medita- 
tion. "Ah'se  gittin*  pow'ful  oneasy  Marse 
Calendah  ain'  gwine  be  heah  in  time  ter  greet 
Ole  Krister-night!" 

"Did  I  tell  you  that  I  wrote  him  not  to 
hurry  back  ?  I  wanted  him  to  stay  over 
Christmas  at  the  old  home." 

"Fob  de  Lawd'  sake!"     His  voice  was 

11 


The  Fourth  Physician 

full  of  respectful  indignation.  '  You  sho'ly 
am'  gone  an'  done  dat! " 

"Yes,  I  did!" 

"Ah  kin  see  right  heah,  ain'  gwine  be  no 
Chris'mus  in  dis  house." 

She  took  a  telegram  from  the  mantel. 

"  Here  is  his  answer.  You  may  read  it." 
She  offered  him  the  yellow  slip,  but  clearly 
he  did  not  intend  to  take  it.  "  Oh,  forgive 
me,  Uncle  Hilary  —  I  forgot  you  don't  like 
to  read  telegrams!" 

"No'm,  Ah  don'  jes'  hanker  arfter  'em. 
Nevah  did  hab  no  luck  wid  tel'grams.  Las' 
one  Ah  projec'  wid,  Marse  Calendah  han' 
me  ter  read  ovah  forty  yeah  ergo.  When  Ah 
discover  nex'  day  hit  wah  de  ordah  foh  him 
ter  go  ter  de  front  wid  his  regiment,  Ah  hab 
de  same  feelin'  ob  mis'ry  dat  come  ter  me  jes' 
now  wid  yo'  'nouncement  he  ain'  gwine  be 
heah  foh  Chris'mus!  What  Marse  Calen- 
dah 'low  in  dat  tel'gram?" 

12 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  He 's  coming  back  this  afternoon! " 

"  De  Lawd  be  praise' !  Ole  niggah  begin 
be  'fraid  all  dem  derangements  you  been 
makin'  wah  foh  dat  doctah-man  'stead  ob 
Marse  Calendah." 

"  How  did  you  know  that  Dr.  Shepherd  is 
expected  here  this  afternoon?"  she  asked, 
surprised. 

Hilary  chuckled. 

"Ah  didn't,  but  Ah  reckon  ole  niggah 
know  hit  now!  No'm,  All  don'  nevah  pestah 
mahse'f  readin'  no  tergrams!  De  tel'foam 
soun'  mo'  intel'gent." 

She  laughed  consciously  at  the  trap  he  had 
led  her  into. 

"  Uncle  Hilary,  I'm  afraid  you  won't  ever 
settle  down  into  a  dignified  man." 

Vastly  tickled,  he  changed  the  subject. 

"  How  you  like  dat  mistletoe? " 

"  It  is  lovely  — all  of  it!  But  I  have  just 
come  from  a  poor,  little  dying  girl  over  in 

13 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  Settlement  District.  Dr.  Warren  found 
her  this  morning,  too  late  to  save  her  life." 

"Too late?    Sho'lynot!" 

"He  doesn't  expect  her  to  live  through 
the  night." 

"  De  po'  chile ! "  His  voice  was  full  of  the 
deepest  sympathy.  "An'  Ah  'spose  dey 
been  makin'  Chris'mus  prep'rations  foh  her, 
too!" 

"  No ;  they  do  not  have  very  much  Christ- 
mas in  homes  like  hers.  She  has  n't  a  father, 
and  her  mother  is  poor." 

"  How  ole  you  say  she  is? " 

"About  five." 

"  No  Chris'mus-tree,  nor  nuffin? " 

"There  wasn't  even  food  in  the  house 
when  Dr.  Warren  got  there." 

"  Whah  she  lib',  Little  Miss?" 

"In  the  same  block  as  the  Mission 
Church." 

"  De  church  Marse  Calendah  gib  de  chime 
ob  bells  ter?" 

14 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Yes." 

"Hit  sho'ly  can't  be  de  chile  you  an'  me 
tooken  de  Chris'mus  things  ter.  las'  yeah?" 

Elizabeth  nodded  her  head. 

'You  'membah  how  she  clumb  up  onto 
mah  knee,  an'  put  dem  baby  fingahs  'gainst 
dese  ole  black  cheeks  ob  mine?" 

"  I  —  I  thought  of  it  to-day." 

'  Yassum ;  she  put  dem  little  ban's  on  mah 
face,  an'  say,  sweet  an'  trus'ful-like,"  and 
he  tenderly  imitated  the  child  voice,  '"Ah 
knows  who  oo  is !  Oo  is  Ole  Santy !  An'  oo 
is  turn  down  'ittle  chillun's  chimblies  ser 
much  oo  ban's  an'  face  is  full  ob  soot ! ' ' 

"  Poor,  baby  fingers ! " 

"De  onliest  chile  Ah  is  belt  in  mah  ahms 
fob  many  er  yeah ! "  His  gentle  old  face  took 
on  a  purposeful  look  that  Elizabeth  had  seen 
before.  "We  ain'  gwine  ter  let  her  die,  is 
we,  Little  Miss?" 

"Oh,  I  hope  not!" 

"Good  Book  say  we  gotter  considah'  de 

15 


The  Fourth  Physician 

po'  an'  needy  as  well  as  de  lilies  ob  de  fiel', 
but  when  Ah  heahs  ob  er  case  like  dis,  Ah  is 
suah  we  considahs  de  lilies  ob  de  fiel'  too 
much!" 

"  I  think  so  —  and  that  is  true  of  us!  Look 
at  all  our  beautiful  Christmas  things — we 
with  no  children  in  the  house! " 

"You  is  de  chile  ob  dis  house  —  de  onliest 
one  we  got  lef!  Marse  Calendah  an'  me 
nevah  got  ovah  'membahin'  dat ! " 

Elizabeth,  touched  by  his  devotion,  de- 
cided to  take  him  into  her  confidence,  know- 
ing that  no  one  was  worthier. 

'You  were  speaking  of  Dr.  Shepherd," 
she  ventured,  glancing  at  the  mistletoe  with 
coloring  cheeks.  "  Sometimes  when  he  is 
here,  I  can't  help  feeling  that  I  am  keeping 
him  from  some  poor,  suffering  child  1 " 

Without  understanding  why,  Hilary  be- 
gan to  bristle. 

"  Wheddah  Doctah  Shepherd  am  heah  er 
somewhah  else,  de  kine  ob  chillun  he  'tends 

16 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ain'  gwinter  suffah!  He  got  strickly  er 
obsclusive  practice  —  'mongst  de  rich  an' 
pow'ful,  you  know." 

'  Yes,  I  know,"  she  admitted,  and  the  old 
man  felt  the  sadness  in  her  heart. 

"  Ob  cou'se  dere  am  all  sohts  ob  doctahs," 
Hilary  explained  quite  cheerfully.  "Ah'se 
hadder  lot  ob  dealin's  wid  'em !  Comin'  home 
on  de  street-car  de  uddah  night,  Ah  heah  er 
life-assuhance  agent  tellin'  how  he  got  er  tip 
dat  suttin  doctah  gwine  take  out  er  polercy 
on  his  own  life.  Same  ebenin'  he  call  on  de 
doctah  wid  de  idea  ob  gittin'  de  business. 
What  you  think  dat  f eesician  done  ? " 

"  I  could  never  guess." 

"Well,  he  lis'en  few  minutes,  an'  den 
he  'low  he  don'  want  no  life-assuhance. 
'  Lemme  see  yo'  tongue ! '  he  say  ter  de  agent. 
'Nuffin  de  mattah  wid  mah  tongue!'  de 
agent  explain,  thinkin'  de  doctah  wah  joshin' 
him.  How-some-evah  he  done  as  he  wah 
tole,  an'  den  dat  doctah  ups  an'  charges  de 

17 


The  Fourth  Physician 

po'  man  two  dollahs  fob  one  orfice  consola- 
tion!" 

"  Don't  you  mean  an  office  consultation? " 
Elizabeth  inquired,  laughing  merrily. 

Hilary  became  solemn. 

;<  You  'spose  dat  wah  what  he  mean?  Ef 
hit  wah,  den  you  gone  an'  tooken  de  whole 
humorousness  outer  dat  story!" 

"I'd  be  sorry  to  do  that!" 

"De  whole  p'int  ob  de  joke  is  wondahin' 
whah  de  life-assuhance  man  got  any  consola- 
tion outer  de  transaction." 

"But,  as  you  say,  all  doctors  are  not 
alike,"  Elizabeth  reminded  him. 

"  No'm,  bless  de  Lawd,  dey  ain't!  Dere 's 
ole  Doctah  Fred'rick,  back  in  Hanovah 
County.  One  day,  Sistah  Louisy  Rice  dat 
uster  lib  in  de  cabin  down  de  road  from  us, 
come  bu'stin'  in  wid  de  news  dat  little  'Mer- 
icky  Jane,  her  gran'chile,  wah  ver'  sick,  an' 
she  want  me  ter  pray  fob  her.  Dat  wah  when 
Ah  f oiler  preachin'  steady,  you  undahstan'? " 

18 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Yes." 

"Ah  say  ter  Sistah  Louisy,  p'inted-like, 
'  Sistah,'  Ah  say,  'Ain't  dat  chile  got  no  doc- 
tah? '  She  answah  dat  she  got  er  doctah,  but 
he  arsk  er  mighty  lot  ob  questions  'bout  whah 
he  gwinter  git  his  money  —  dat's  why  she 
want  me  ter  pray ! " 

"What  did  you  do?" 

"  Ah  respon'  dat  Ah  gwinter  light  out  ter 
town  f oh  Doctah  Fred'rick,  an'  Ah'd  do  sech 
prayin'  as  come  handy  on  de  road.  Dis  hap- 
pen on  er  Thanksgibin'  Day,  an'  when  Ah 
gets  dar,  de  doctah  jes'  settin'  down  ter  din- 
nah.  He  tooken  one  sor'ful  look  at  de  roas' 
turkey,  grabs  de  little  pill-satchel  he  allus 
carry,  an'  hurry  right  out.  Ten  mile  in  de 
rain,  ovah  Virginny  roads !  You  know  what 
dat  mean." 

"I  surely  do!" 

"When  we  come  ter  de  ford  through 
Lickin'  Crick,  fu'st  thing  we  know,  hoss  an* 
buggy  swep'  right  out  from  undah  us,  an* 

19 


The  Fourth  Physician 

down  de  swollen  stream !  We  land,  ob  cou'se, 
on  de  wrong  side,  an'  as  he  gathah  his  senses 
back,  de  doctah  'low  he  jes'  gotter  get  ter  dat 
little  sick  niggah!  So  he  jump  in  an'  swum 
'cross,  hangin'  onter  de  pill-satchel  all  de 
time.  Houah  later  when  we  show  up  at  Sis- 
tah  Louisy's  cabin,  he  mos'  tuckered  out  I 
What  you  think  we  fine? " 

"What?"  Elizabeth  asked  with  interest, 
the  story  having  been  a  favorite  one  since 
childhood. 

"  Ole  Sistah  Louisy  standin'  in  de  do',  her 
big,  shiny  eyes  full  ob  gladness.  'Mericky 
Jane  much  better!'  she  cry.  'Pahson,  yo' 
prayah  suttinly  been  heeard!'  Ah  draw 
mahse'f  up  an'  respon'  dat  Doctah  Fred'rick 
been  doin'  de  best  prayin'  in  de  woiT,  an'  Ah 
reckon  dat  wah  what  turn  de  trick.  You  see, 
Little  Miss,  fervent  prayah  Vaileth  much. 
Ah  is  of 'en  observe  dat  nuffin  is  ser  strong  in 
sickness  er  health,  as  er  good  prayah  wid  de 
right  perpo'tion  ob  effoht  behine  hit! " 

20 


The  Fourth  Physician 


II 

HER  father's  absence  had  increased 
Elizabeth's  responsibilities,  and  ex- 
plained how  she  happened  to  forget  that 
little  Jeannette  would  be  looking  for  Santy 
Claus  —  the  same  soot-covered  one  who  had 
delighted  her  heart  the  Christmas  before.  In 
fact,  it  was  Hilary's  beaming,  black  face  as 
he  served  breakfast  that  morning  that  re- 
minded her  of  the  child.  They  discussed 
various  gifts  before  she  decided  to  go  per- 
sonally and  find  out  what  would  bring  the 
most  happiness,  the  most  comfort. 

It  was  shortly  after  ten  o'clock  when  she 
stepped  from  a  car  at  Hull  House  and 
walked  east  on  Ewing  Street  past  the  Ju- 
venile Court  to  where  the  Dante  School  stood 
calm  and  dignified  in  the  social  inferno,  the 
human  chaos  that  surrounded  it.  Familiar 
as  she  was  with  the  district,  it  was  not  easy 

21 


The  Fourth  Physician 

to  find  Mary  Walker's  home.  She  paused  in 
front  of  a  vacant  lot  that  made  her  think  of  a 
sunken  garden  of  ashes.  Here  and  there 
stood  heavy  coal  wagons  laid  up  for  the  holi- 
days, their  harsh,  ugly  lines  softened  by  the 
snow.  A  half-dozen  dark-eyed  boys  had 
built  a  crackling  fire  in  a  battered  section  of 
rusty  iron  smokestack  discarded  years  be- 
fore; their  fuel  consisted  of  dried  banana 
stalks  that  had  been  permitted  to  contribute 
to  the  pestilential  conditions  of  the  neighbor- 
hood the  summer  before.  The  heavy  snow- 
flakes  fell  upon  the  heated  metal  with  sharp, 
vicious  hisses,  and  the  youngsters  shouted 
and  danced  as  primitive  boys  must  have  done 
in  the  world's  first  snowstorm.  Across  the 
street  stood  a  house  with  cheap,  pretentious 
lace  curtains  caught  back  in  the  middle  and 
framing  a  huge  salted  fish,  advertising  to  the 
world  that  commerce  was  not  neglected  in 
that  home.  A  squat,  serious-faced  lad  with 
absurdly  bowed  legs,  came  trudging  along 

22 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  slippery  sidewalk  carrying  a  babe  whom 
kindly  Nature  intended  to  bask  in  the  sun- 
light of  the  Mediterranean.  Elizabeth  asked 
in  Italian  if  he  could  tell  her  where  Mrs. 
Walker  lived.  The  clear,  well-formed  Eng- 
lish in  which  he  replied,  reflected  credit  upon 
the  Dante  School,  as  he  gave  her  directions 
which  soon  brought  her  to  a  wretched  house 
that  listed  sharply  leeward  and  seemed  in 
imminent  danger  of  capsizing.  The  lower 
floor  was  occupied  by  a  saloon,  and  in  one  of 
the  windows  here  the  noble  countenance  of 
Tolstoi  shared  honors  with  the  coarse  fea- 
tures of  a  local  candidate  in  the  last  election. 
A  rickety  stair  ran  up  one  side  of  the  build- 
ing to  a  crazy  gallery  upon  which  the  upper 
tenements  opened.  It  was  in  this  structure 
that  Mary  Walker  rented  the  two  miserable 
rooms  she  called  her  home. 

Elizabeth  knocked,  and  while  waiting  at 
the  door  a  funeral  procession  passed.  There 
were  several  rather  stylish  carriages  —  in  one 

23 


The  Fourth  Physician 

a  little  white  casket  almost  covered  by  a 
bunch  of  blood-red  roses  frozen  stiff  in 
the  biting  air.  One  ramshackle  automobile 
coughed  along  in  the  rear  as  if  sick  unto 
death.  She  watched  it  with  apprehension, 
but  it  negotiated  the  corner  safely  and  dis- 
appeared in  the  smoke  and  snow. 

Dr.  Warren  opened  the  door.  Elizabeth 
knew  him  and  his  work,  and  was  not  sur- 
prised when  she  saw  his  sturdy,  plainly  clad 
figure  before  her. 

"How  do  you  do,  Miss  Bedford?"  he 
asked,  his  fine  young  face  lighting  up. 

"Good-morning,  Doctor!"  she  replied 
cordially. 

"  Come  in  out  of  the  cold  —  although  it  is 
not  much  warmer  inside."  She  entered  and 
he  closed  the  door.  "How  did  you  know 
about  her?"  he  asked. 

"Know  about  her  —  about  whom?" 

"  Little  Jeannette.    She  is  very  ill."    He 

24 


The  Fourth  Physician 

poked  dexterously  at  the  newly  kindled  fire 
in  the  cook-stove  that  was  filling  the  room 
with  the  fragrant  odor  of  pine.  "  I  learned 
this  morning  that  she  was  sick  and  came  over 
as  soon  as  I  could." 

'You  are  not  alarmed  about  her?" 
"  Frankly,  I  am.  In  fact,  I  don't  see  how 
she  can  recover.  Such  cases  are  hard  to  save, 
over  here.  Everything  is  against  her.  There 
was  no  fire  when  I  arrived.  Her  poor,  dis- 
tracted mother  was  breaking  up  for  fuel  an 
old  trunk  that  must  have  had  memories  for 
her.  She  got  the  stove  started  while  I  did 
what  I  could  for  the  child." 

"Is  there  plenty  of  fuel  now?" 
"  Yes.  I  'phoned  over  to  the  House  from 
the  saloon  downstairs.  There  is  also  food 
and  medicine.  One  of  the  most  discouraging 
features  of  the  case  is  that  Mrs.  Walker  has 
made  up  her  mind  that  the  child  will  die.  I 
have  sometimes  noticed  that  mothers  of  al- 

25 


The  Fourth  Physician 

most  elementary  intelligence  seem  to  know 
when  a  child  is  fatally  ill.  That  is  particu- 
larly true  in  this  part  of  the  city." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  because  so  many  children 
die  over  here,"  she  suggested. 

"  Hardly,  Miss  Bedford.  We  are  having 
better  success  each  year.  It  may  sound  un- 
professional to  you,  but  often  I  am  forced  to 
consider  these  uncanny  intuitions  of  which  I 
speak." 

"  There  must  be  something  I  can  do  for 
them.  May  I  go  in?"  She  indicated  the 
door  of  the  inner  room. 

'  Yes,  if  you  wish.  A  visiting  nurse  has 
come,  and  is  with  the  child.  She  is  resting 
easier,  and  in  the  early  afternoon  we 
will  know  more  of  her  chances  of  recovery. 
Meanwhile  there  are  other  places  I  must  go." 
He  filled  the  stove  with  coal  and  adjusted 
the  drafts.  Then,  holding  his  hat,  he  smiled 
gravely.  "  A  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  Miss 
Bedford!" 

26 


The  Fourth  Physician 

She  offered  her  hand. 

"It  is  happiness  I  am  wishing  for  you, 
Dr.  Warren — you  who  bring  so  much  to 
others!" 

"I'm  not  so  sure  about  that!  But  this 
work  appeals  to  me.  I  would  n't  know  how 
to  act  anywhere  else." 

When  he  had  gone,  Elizabeth  began 
straightening  up  the  poor,  squalid  room  that 
contained  barely  the  necessaries  of  life.  It 
served  as  kitchen,  eating  and  living  room 
combined.  Besides  the  stove  now  roaring 
valiantly  as  the  result  of  Warren's  expert 
ministrations  there  was  a  sewing-machine 
such  as  piece-workers  use,  a  table,  and  sev- 
eral chairs.  These  she  noticed  in  a  casual 
way.  Her  deep,  womanly  sympathy  was 
centred  in  the  adjoining  room  where  a  child 
lay  suffering. 


27 


The  Fourth  Physician 

III 

THROUGHOUT  their  association  of 
a  lifetime,  Calendar  Bedford  never 
thought  of  Hilary  as  a  servant,  but  always 
as  a  friend.  Conditions  not  of  his  making, 
which  he  accepted  as  his  fathers  had  done 
before  him,  had  raised  a  social  barrier  be- 
tween them;  neither  made  any  effort  to 
remove  it,  satisfied  in  knowing  that  their 
friendship  was  unaffected  by  circumstances 
which  made  one  the  master,  the  other  a  serv- 
ant. It  was  to  this  same  friend  and  slave 
that  Bedford  had  entrusted  the  safety  of  the 
women  and  children  of  his  household,  and 
incidentally  his  worldly  goods,  when  he  led 
his  regiment  away  from  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia in  the  early  days  of  the  Civil  War. 
And  no  soldier  of  his  command  had  been 
more  faithful  to  his  cause  than  this  devoted 
negro  who  served  him  still. 

Elizabeth  was  in  her  first  year  at  college 

28 


The  Fourth  Physician 

when  her  mother  died,  and  these  two  white- 
haired  men,  one  of  whom  loved  the  dead 
woman  as  a  rose  is  loved,  the  other  as  a  star 
might  be,  tightened  up  the  bands  of  affection 
and  comforted  one  another.  The  same  rich 
sympathy  that  had  buoyed  up  the  drifting 
soul  of  his  master  during  that  tragic  time 
now  began  to  rise  in  Hilary's  heart  as  Eliza- 
beth finished  telling  what  she  knew  of  the 
stricken  child.  His  nimble  brain  was  already 
planning,  when  Dr.  Warren  called. 

"  I  had  hoped  to  find  Dr.  Shepherd,"  he 
explained,  glancing  about  the  room  in  dis- 
appointment. "  I  was  informed  by  his  office 
that  he  might  be  here." 

"I  expect  him  later  in  the  afternoon," 
Miss  Bedford  replied.  "  How  is  little  Jean- 
nette?" 

"When  I  returned  after  seeing  you,  I 
found  her  condition  grave.  I  have  done  all 
I  can.  There  is  only  one  man  who  can  save 
her  now." 

29 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"You  mean  Dr.  Shepherd?" 

'  Yes.  Unless  he  can  be  induced  to  go  to 
her  and  to  administer  his  new  discovery,  the 
child  will  die  before  midnight." 

"  We  must  ask  him  to  go." 

"  That  is  what  brings  me  here." 

"Surely  he  will!" 

Dr.  Warren  did  not  miss  the  doubt  that 
her  confident  words  were  intended  to  con- 
ceal. 

"I  hope  so,  Miss  Bedford.  You  know 
how  busy  he  is.  In  other  cases  brought  to 
his  attention  —  " 

"  Then  you  have  brought  similar  cases  to 
him,"  she  interrupted,  "and  he  did  not  see 
them?" 

"  There  are  many  demands  upon  his  time, 
you  know." 

"He  is  about  to  announce  his  wonderful 
discovery — to  give  it  to  the  world!" 

Warren  bowed. 

"I  must  not  linger.     He  may  be  at  the 

30 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Children's  Hospital;  he  has  a  clinic  there 
about  this  hour." 

"Why  not  telephone  him?" 

"  It  would  be  of  no  use.  My  only  chance 
of  inducing  him  to  go,  is  by  personal  persua- 
sion. You  see,  I  have  known  him  a  long 
time." 

Her  eyes  danced. 

'  You  have !  Oh,  tell  me  what  was  he  like 
as  a  boy?" 

The  slum  doctor  paused  thoughtfully. 
Even  the  eager  young  woman  noticed  the 
color  deepen  in  his  face.  He  was  absorbed 
in  a  diagnosis  that  concerned  his  own  heart 
as  well  as  hers.  She  wondered  at  his  delay 
in  replying,  and  attributed  it  to  anxiety  for 
the  child. 

"  It  is  hard  to  answer  a  question  like  that," 
he  finally  said,  "  but  his  was  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  natures  I  ever  knew.  I  used  to 
wonder  if  there  was  any  limitation  to  his 
courage  or  his  gentleness.  We  used  to  tell 

31 


The  Fourth  Physician 

him  that  he  was  as  happy  in  patching  up  a 
girl's  broken  toy  as  he  was  in  thrashing  the 
boy  who  broke  it.'* 

"Beautiful!"  And  one  might  have  fan- 
cied from  her  manner  that  she  herself  was 
the  little  girl  whose  cherished  doll  and  whose 
broken  heart  had  both  been  mended. 

"  In  fact,"  Warren  continued,  with  exact- 
ness, "Dr.  Shepherd  was  everything  as  a 
boy  that  he  should  be  now  as  a  man." 

She  stiffened  perceptibly,  and  her  expres- 
sion changed. 

"I  —  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I  under- 
stand you,  Dr.  Warren." 

The  physician's  diagnosis  was  complete. 
Sacrifice  was  not  unknown  to  him,  and  his 
course  lay  clear. 

"What  I  mean  is  this,  Miss  Bedford.  I 
can't  help  feeling  that  Dr.  Shepherd  has  not 
actually  changed  a  great  deal.  Somewhere 
under  all  the  fashionable  rubbish  he  affects, 

32 


The  Fourth  Physician 

his  old  nature  lies  dormant.  A  man  can't 
change  that  much,  you  know!" 

"Oh,  I'm  so  glad  you  think  that  —  I  do, 
too!" 

"  If  I  did  n't  have  a  part  of  the  old  faith 
left,  I  would  n't  be  seeking  him  now.  Good- 
bye!" 

With  the  extra  touch  of  ceremony  re- 
served for  those  whom  he  particularly  ad- 
mired, Hilary  escorted  Dr.  Warren  to  the 
door. 

"Dere's  er  pow'ful  lot  ob  doctahs  in  de 
worl',"  he  observed  innocently,  upon  his  re- 
turn. "  An'  sech  dif'rent  kines  ob  'em,  too! " 

He  was  explaining  how  "Doctah  Fred'- 
rick,  ob  Hanovah  County,"  would  conduct  a 
case  like  little  Jeannette's,  when  a  tall,  aris- 
tocratic man,  about  sixty-five,  appeared  in 
the  doorway,  where  he  stood  for  a  moment 
as  if  blessing  the  friendship  that  the  beau- 
tiful young  woman  had  inherited  for  the 

33 


The  Fourth  Physician 

black  man  he  had  always  loved.  Hilary 
saw  him  first,  and  laughed  as  gleefully  as 
a  lad. 

"Ah  jes'  wish  you'd  look!" 

Elizabeth  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  was  met 
by  the  man  at  the  door,  who  took  her  in  his 
arms. 

'  You  see  I'm  back  to  meet  Santy ! "  His 
voice  was  low  and  rich  and  glad.  He  took 
Hilary's  hand  and  wrung  it  warmly.  "  How 
d'y  do,  Hilary?" 

"Ah'se  jes'  mod'rate,  Bless  de  Lawd, 
Marse  Calendah! "  he  answered.  No  matter 
how  happy  he  was,  it  never  seemed  quite 
delicate  to  boast  about  it.  "  Ah  hope  you  is, 
sah?" 

"Is  what  — 'jes'  mod'rate'?  Oh,  I'm 
more  than  that!  It  was  a  beautiful  visit! 
I  left  everybody  well,  and  the  old  place 
hasn't  changed  since  we  were  there."  He 
inspected  the  decorations  approvingly.  "  Full 
as  ever  of  Christmas  spirit,  you  two.  Whose 

34 


The  Fourth  Physician 

master  hand  is  responsible  for  all  this 
beauty?" 

Hilary  chuckled. 

"  Jes'  er  few  extra  teches,  sah,  in  honah  ob 
de  prod'gal's  return!  Ob  cou'se  you  undah- 
stan's,"  he  explained  in  some  confusion, 
"you  ain'  'zactly  er  prod'gal!" 

"  Whatever  I  happen  to  be,  I'm  not  going 
back  home  alone  any  more.  Next  Christmas 
we'll  all  go ! "  He  turned  to  Elizabeth  now. 
'You  and  Hilary  and  I  —  and  Living- 
ston?" 

"  Do  you  mean  Dr.  Shepherd? " 

Hilary  smiled  knowingly. 

"  Ali'll  jes'  make  suah  yo'  rooms  is  ready, 
sah! "  He  took  his  master's  bag  and  started 
out.  "Lawd!  Lawd!  Dese  evahlastin' 
doctah-men!" 

Elizabeth  was  careful  not  to  appear  con- 
fused. 

"  Dr.  Shepherd  is  coming  this  afternoon." 

"  Good !    He 's  very  welcome ! " 

35 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"I  know  you  feel  kindly  toward  him, 
Father,  but  —  " 

"  Let 's  see  about  this,  now! "  Bedford  in- 
terrupted with  his  customary  directness. 
"  Tell  your  old  Dad  if  anything  is  troubling 
you!" 

"  There  is  something  I  want  to  tell  you, 
but  I  don't  seem  to  know  just  what  it  is." 

"  Don't  you  care  for  him,  my  dear? " 

"You  know  I  do!" 

"Perhaps  he  doesn't  care  for  you!"  he 
suggested  teasingly. 

"That's  just  what  it  is!"  she  replied  sol- 
emnly. "  I'm  sure  he  likes  me,  but  it  is  his 
horrid  old  profession  that  stands  between 
us!" 

Bedford  realized  how  unfortunate  it  would 
be  if  he  laughed  outright  as  he  wanted  to. 

"I've  often  noticed  that  young  people  in 
love  —  deeply  in  love,  you  understand  —  ex- 
pect more  than  —  er  —  that  is  to  say  —  go 
on,  my  child." 

36 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"I  don't  know  what  it  is,  exactly.  Old- 
fashioned  people  used  to  call  it  a  'chilling 
mist'  or  something  of  the  sort,  and  that  is 
about  as  near  as  I  can  describe  it.  And  it  is 
always  there!"  she  added  positively. 

"  Go  on,"  he  suggested  with  infinite  pati- 
ence. "  Not  a  symptom  missing! " 

'  You  needn't  laugh  at  me,  Dad!  I  tell 
you  it  is  his  profession!  And  he  loves  it 
better  than  he  could  ever  love  me ! " 

"  You  've  reached  the  loves-his-work  stage 

—  that's  all!     It  is  that  quality  which  has 
made  him  —  a  young  man,  but  a  strong  man 

—  in  his  own  great  world! "    He  was  serious 
now.    "  It  is  precisely  that  which  makes  him 
worthy  of  you." 

"  Do  you  suppose  it  is? "  she  asked,  greatly 
comforted. 

"Certainly!  Even  his  good  fortune  in 
winning  you  mustn't  make  him  forget  a 
physician's  duty." 

"  But  it  is  n't  his  duty  at  all  that  I  refer 

37 


The  Fourth  Physician 

to!"  she  declared  stoutly.  "It  is  his  pro- 
fessional standing,  reputation  —  his  profes- 
sional everything  —  and  then,  perhaps,  his 
love  for  me!" 

"Nonsense!"  He  was  grinning  broadly 
now.  "Let's  look  at  the  other  side  of  it." 

"  The  other  side  of  what  ?  " 

"  Why,  this  misty  business  you  are  worry- 
ing about!  I  can  see  Livingston  Shepherd 
right  now  before  his  well-worn  mirror,  put- 
ting 'de  finishin'  teches,'  as  Hilary  would 
say,  to  his  scientifically  correct  toilet!"  He 
pretended  to  be  looking  into  the  distance. 
"  Note  with  what  rare  technique  he  is  making 
an  incision  into  his  dove-colored  four-in- 
hand  with  a  scarf-pin!" 

"Don't,  Dad!"  she  begged. 

"  Suddenly  his  high  brow  is  overcast  with 
doubt  and  misgiving.  'Most  distressing 
complication,'  he  cries.  'Just  as  I  am  sure 
about  everything  else  this  unfortunate  misty 
business  is  clearly  developed,  and  I've  got  to 

38 


The  Fourth  Physician 

recognize  symptoms  of  her  interest  in  some- 
thing besides  myself! ' ' 

She  laughed  joyously. 

' '  Ah,  yes ! '  he  groans.  '  She  still  visits 
those  poor  crippled  children  and  brightens 
their  dreary  lives !  She  even  serves  tea  from 
her  grandmother's  china  service !  I  have  got 
to  discover  a  specific  for  all  this,  too ! ' "  Then 
Bedford  ceased  to  laugh,  and  took  her  ten- 
derly in  his  arms.  "There!  There!  Don't 
you  see?  Your  mother  felt  as  you  do  now 
when  the  war  called  me.  Do  you  think  she 
could  have  loved  me  as  well  if  I  had  laid 
down  my  sword  and  remained  at  her  side?" 

"No,  Dad,  no!"  She  proudly  regarded 
his  military  figure,  still  trim  and  erect,  and 
his  strong,  gentle  face.  'You  are  good  to 
set  me  right!" 


The  Fourth  Physician 


IV 


4 ' "\7'O'  rooms  is  ready,  Marse  Calendah," 
1  Hilary  announced  from  the  door- 
way. "An'  'scuse  me,  sah,  but  'pears  like 
pow'ful  funny  odah  am  comin'  outer  yo'  grip 
—  although  Ah  don'  think  hit 's  as  bad  as  ef 
de  bottle  wah  bu'st!" 

'You  old  rascal,"  Bedford  accused  him 
fondly.  '  You  could  smell  out  that  Hanover 
Bourbon  all  the  way  back  to  Virginia! " 

"Am  hit  one  ob  de  big  bottles,  sah?"  It 
was  important  that  this  question  be  settled. 
"Er  jes'  one  ob  dem  measly  little  quahts?" 

"  It  is  n't  either.  Only  a  pint,  this  time  — 
and  the  last  one,  at  that! " 

"Ah  'membahs  dat  little  runt!"  Hilary 
asserted  resentfully.  "  Hit  wah  de  las'  one 
Ah  drap  inter  de  pond  de  night  Ah  heeard 
dat  Gen'el  Butlah  wah  comin' 1  An'  jes'  as 
luck  would  hab  it,  dat  fool  Bline  Tom  mule 

4? 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ob  our'n  what  Gen'el  Butlah's  soldiers 
would  n't  oblige  us  by  takin',  he  ups  an'  gits 
lost  in  de  pond,  bu'sted  de  jimmy- John  dat 
hel'  fibe  whole  gallons,  an'  misses  de  little 
insignificus  pint  you  got  in  yo'  grip !  Luck 
suttinly  am  curious!  But,  ain'  you  hongry? 
What  kin  Ah  git  fob  you,  sah? " 

"  Nothing,  thank  you.  I  lunched  on  the 
train." 

"  We've  laughed  enough,  now,"  Elizabeth 
announced,  becoming  serious.  "  I  want  to 
tell  you  about  a  sick  child  I  visited  this 
morning.  Dr.  Warren  found  her." 

"Dr.  Warren  of  the  Settlement?" 

"  Yes,  Father.  She  was  very  ill  when  he 
first  saw  her.  And,  oh,  Daddy,  there  was 
neither  medicine  nor  food  in  the  house ! " 

The  old  story  of  human  suffering  was  al- 
ways new  to  him. 

"Dr.  Warren  was  here  just  before  you 
came,"  she  continued.  "He  has  done  all 
that  he  can,  and  is  trying  to  find  Dr.  Shep- 

41 


The  Fourth  Physician 

herd.  And  do  you  know,  they  were  boys 
together !  The  little  girl  is  desperately  ill  of 
the  disease  for  which  Dr.  Shepherd  has  dis- 
covered his  wonderful  specific." 

"  Have  you  told  Livingston  about  the 
case?" 

"No,  Father." 

"Why?" 

"  I  found  a  similar  case  myself  some  time 
ago,  and  telephoned  him  about  it.  I  under- 
stood him  to  promise  to  visit  the  child  at 
once,  but  when  I  asked  him  about  it  later,  he 
had  forgotten  to  go." 

"Had  he  not  seen  the  child  at  all?" 

"He  explained  that  he  was  devoting  so 
much  time  to  the  discovery,  he  was  rarely 
able  to  see  individual  cases." 

"  Every  case  is  an  individual  case." 

* '  I  was  thinking  of  that  when  you  came, 
and  I  can't  help  feeling  that  he  does  not  care 
for  children  at  all,  —  that  it  is  merely  pro- 
fessional prominence  and  fame  which  appeal 

42 


The  Fourth  Physician 

to  him !  However,  I  am  going  to  do  what  I 
can  to  send  him  over  to  Dr.  Warren's  pa- 
tient." 

"  Where  does  the  child  live? " 

"  Quite  near  the  little  Mission  Church  to 
which  you  gave  the  chimes  last  Christmas. 
I  heard  them  again  to-day.  And  I  thought 
of  you,  and  of  her,  as  I  listened  to  their  notes 
of  sweetness  and  cheer." 

'  You  are  very  like  her,  my  child ! "  For  a 
moment  neither  spoke.  "  I  am  glad  you  had 
made  up  your  mind  to  have  Dr.  Shepherd 
see  the  little  girl  over  there." 

"  I  have  already  made  up  my  speech,  too! " 
she  told  him  girlishly.  Then  she  became  seri- 
ous again.  "  I  shall  tell  him  that  the  saving 
of  that  precious  life  will  be  his  Christmas 
gift  to  me!" 

"That  will  fix  him,  if  nothing  else  will! 
I  can  understand  better  now  how  you  feel 
about  his  work.  But  you  must  be  fair  to 
him.  He  is  much  absorbed  in  his  discovery, 

43 


The  Fourth  Physician 

but  when  once  he  has  announced  it,  will  have 
more  time  for  other  things." 

It  was  the  holiday  season,  and  Colonel 
Bedford  had  much  to  tell  of  his  visit.  He 
had  answered  many  questions  about  the  old 
home,  and  was  leaving  the  room  when  Hilary 
threw  open  the  door  for  Dr.  Shepherd. 
Many  who  knew  this  interesting  gentleman 
insisted  that  his  unusual  personality  and 
physical  charm  had  much  to  do  with  his  no- 
table success  as  a  specialist  in  children's  dis- 
eases. In  a  measure  this  did  him  injustice; 
he  was  a  worker  as  well  as  a  thinker.  At 
thirty-two  there  were  few  physicians  in  the 
great  city  who  were  better  known,  and  none 
with  a  more  enviable  reputation  in  his  spe- 
cialty. Many  a  child's  life  had  been  spared 
through  the  instrumentality  of  his  skill  sup- 
ported by  indomitable  courage  and  determi- 
nation. And  many  a  rich  man  paid  richly 
for  his  service.  All  that  he  was,  all  that  he 
had  done,  and  all  that  he  intended  to  do  were 

44 


The  Fourth  Physician 

apparent  in  his  face  and  manner  as  he 
entered  Calendar  Bedford's  living-room. 

"A  Merry  Christmas  to  you  both!"  he 
said,  and  to  one  who  observed  impartially  it 
was  as  if  words  of  great  import  were  being 
worthily  uttered. 

Bedford  took  his  hand  cordially,  and  then 
surrendered  it  to  his  daughter. 

"I  was  afraid  I  might  not  be  fortunate 
enough  to  keep  my  engagement,"  Shepherd 
confessed  with  gracious  candor. 

"  Doubtless  you  have  many  demands  upon 
your  time,"  his  host  answered  politely. 

"Rather  more  than  usual,  Colonel  Bed- 
ford. I  trust  you  had  a  pleasant  stay  in  Vir- 
ginia?" 

"Delightful!  Elizabeth  and  I  were  just 
planning  to  have  you  with  us  there,  next 
Christmas." 

"But,  Father,"  his  daughter  ventured 
diffidently,  "as  charming  as  it  is  to  antici- 
pate Dr.  Shepherd's  visit  next  year,  we  must 

45 


The  Fourth  Physician 

not  forget  our  claim  upon  him  now.  Dr. 
Shepherd,  I  was  explaining  to  Father  that  I 
intended  to  ask  you  for  a  Christmas  gift! 
Really  and  truly  a  Christmas  gift  for  my- 
self!" 

'  You'll  ask  it  now,  won't  you? " 

"Indeed  I  will!  It  is  for  a  gift  of  your 
time.  I  learned  only  to-day  that  you  are  a 
friend  of  Dr.  Warren  who  does  so  much  for 
the  poor  people  over  in  the  Settlement." 

"Warren?  Dr.  Warren?"  the  fashion- 
able physician  inquired.  "  So  many  doctors, 
you  know!" 

"Dr.  Robert  Warren.  You  knew  him  as 
a  boy." 

"  Oh,  that  Warren! "  He  laughed  indul- 
gently. "  Why,  yes,  I  know  him!  We  were 
classmates  —  in  fact,  roommates  at  college. 
What  about  him?" 

"  Father  and  I  both  know  him.  He  was 
here  this  afternoon  looking  for  you." 

"Looking  for  me  —  here?    Really,  I  do 

46 


The  Fourth  Physician 

not  understand  why  Dr.  Warren  should  be 
looking  for  me.  Our  work  is  so  different, 
you  know.  It  is  probably  something  in  con- 
nection with  his  fad.  Bad  thing  for  a  phy- 
sician ! " 

"  What  is  his  fad — may  I  inquire? "  asked 
Elizabeth. 

"Oh,  slumming,  mainly!"  he  answered 
with  calculated  indifference.  "  He  has  buried 
a  rather  unusual  talent  over  in  the  West  Side 
Graveyard,  as  we  call  it.  Charity  practice 
among  unappreciative  foreigners. ' ' 

"  I  have  rarely  found  them  so." 

'  You  will,  sooner  or  later,  when  the  nov- 
elty wears  off.  In  my  opinion,  Dr.  Warren 
has  sacrificed  himself." 

'  You  are  wrong  about  that,  Livingston! " 
Bedford  put  in,  with  good-natured  direct- 
ness. "  All  wrong,  my  boy ! " 

"  Indeed  ? "  The  distinguished  young  spe- 
cialist was  not  accustomed  to  having  his 
opinions  disputed. 

47 


The  Fourth  Phvsician 

'  Yes,  entirely  wrong.  A  few  years  ago,  I 
might  have  agreed  with  you.  I  am  a  little 
late  in  getting  around  to  it,  but  I  am  begin- 
ning to  comprehend  the  good  that  men  like 
Warren  are  doing." 

"But  the  theory  of  it  all  is  utterly  fal- 
lacious, Colonel  Bedford,  and  the  practice 
worse!  It  is  very  hard  to  intelligently  dis- 
pense charity." 

"  It  is  n't  charity,"  the  older  man  retorted. 
"  It  is  just  a  big,  brotherly  helpfulness!  Of 
course,  it  should  be  intelligently  done ;  and  I 
want  to  tell  you  that  many  a  man  in  what  we 
are  pleased  to  call  our  own  class  has  given 
me  a  lift  over  some  pretty  hard  places  in  my 
life  —  when  I  most  needed  it,  too!  I  never 
heard  any  of  them  call  it '  charity.' ' 

"Our  own  class,  yes!  But  those  below 
us — it  is  hard  to  help  them.  Usually  the 
unworthy  get  the  bounty  for  the  reason  that 
they  who  really  need  it  are  too  proud  to  ac- 
cept help." 

48 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  If  that  is  true,  it  is  because  we  persist, 
from  our  petty  little  thrones,  in  thinking  of  it 
as  charity — in  calling  it  charity,  even  as  we 
hand  it  down!"  He  realized  that  he  was 
warming  up,  when  his  eye  chanced  to  rest 
upon  the  Christmas  decorations.  "To 
the  Carpenter  of  Nazareth,  charity  meant 
Love!"  He  placed  his  hand  affectionately 
upon  the  younger  man's  broad  shoulder. 

"I  know  you  will  pardon  a  personality, 
my  boy!  For  many  generations  my  ances- 
tors—  and  doubtless  yours  as  well  —  have 
fought  their  country's  battles  in  one  way  or 
another:  as  pioneers  in  the  wilderness,  as 
statesmen,  or  on  the  field  of  war.  But 
none  of  them  ever  had  a  greater  privilege 
than  yours  and  mine  —  a  part  in  the  hardest 
and  the  best  fight  of  all  —  the  struggle  of 
man  to  raise  his  fellowman!  Here,  Living- 
ston, in  our  great  cities  is  the  real  American 
conflict!" 

"Ah  is  pow'ful  sorry,  Marse  Calendah,  ter 

49 


The  Fourth  Physician 

be  int'ruptin'  you  erg'in,  but  Ah  considahs 
hit  mos'  impohtant  dat  you  cpme  see  'bout 
dat  grip  ob  yo's." 

Bedford  turned  and  grinned  broadly,  as 
he  caught  Hilary's  eye. 

"Be  there  in  a  minute!  Elizabeth  has 
something  to  ask  you,  Livingston.  I'll  leave 
you  here  with  her,  if  you  will  excuse  me." 

"  Certainly,  Colonel.  I  have  something  to 
ask  her"  Shepherd  answered  with  easy  as- 
surance. 

"About  my  Christmas  gift  —  "  Elizabeth 
began  as  soon  as  her  father  had  gone. 

"I  brought  it  with  me!"  he  assured  her 
complacently,  feeling  for  something  in  his 
waistcoat  pocket. 

"We  were  speaking,  you  know,  of  Dr. 
Warren  — 

"  Pardon  me,  Elizabeth,"  he  interrupted, 
"  my  time  is  unusually  precious  to-day.  I  am 
leaving  the  city  to-night  —  important  ap- 
pointment in  New  York." 

50 


The  Fourth  Physician 

She  smiled  responsively. 

'  Your  fame  is  spreading." 

"  Oh,  yes !  You  may  remember  hearing 
me  speak  of  Dr.  Kindtlieb,  the  great  Ger- 
man specialist  in  children's  diseases?" 

'Yes,  indeed!  I  saw  in  the  papers  that 
he  is  here  in  the  city,  now." 

"  Case  of  the  Stuart  child." 

"  Is  n't  it  beautiful  to  think  of  that  mighty 
man  coming  all  the  way  from  Berlin  to  see 
one  dear  little  girl? " 

"  Oh,  yes ! "  he  agreed  impatiently.  "  But 
let  me  proceed!" 

"Pardon  me!" 

He  missed  the  note  of  pain  in  her  voice, 
and  hurried  on  with  what  he  wished  to  say. 

"An  unusually  great  honor  has  come  to 
me.  I  met  Dr.  Kindtlieb  in  the  Stuart  case. 
A  lucky  opportunity  enabled  me  to  explain 
my  discovery  to  him.  His  mighty  intellect 
grasped  it  immediately.  He  took  my  hand, 
his  eyes  full  of  sympathy,  and  said,  '  It  is  a 

51 


The  Fourth  Physician 

wonderful  thing  you  have  done,  Dr.  Shep- 
herd !  Your  discovery  will  take  high  rank  in 
the  history  of  our  profession !  When  do  you 
announce  it  to  the  world  ? ' : 

"Oh,  I  am  so  proud  of  it  all!"  And  her 
eyes  said  more  than  that. 

"  I  replied  to  Dr.  Kindtlieb  that  I  was 
about  ready  now  to  disclose  the  discovery. 
Then  I  explained  more  fully  the  treatment. 
He  was  deeply  impressed.  '  Dr.  Shepherd, ' 
he  said, '  it  has  apparently  become  your  priv- 
ilege to  make  a  discovery  that  will  enable 
physicians  the  world  over  to  save  countless 
lives.'" 

"Do  let  me  call  Father!  I  want  him  to 
hear  it  all!" 

"  No.  This  is  a  part  of  your  Christmas 
gift,  and  is  for  you  alone.  To  resume :  Dr. 
Kindtlieb  is  giving  a  dinner  this  evening — 
his  farewell  dinner  to  a  few  prominent  phy- 
sicians appointed  by  the  Medical  Society  to 
entertain  him  while  here.  Since  learning  of 

52 


The  Fourth  Physician 

my  discovery,  he  wants  me  to  disclose  it  at 
this  dinner,  that  he  may  share  in  its  discus- 
sion." 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  how  glad  I  am  that  you 
have  won  this  splendid  recognition! " 

"Haven't  finished  yet!  Dr.  Kindtlieb  is 
leaving  the  city  immediately  after  this  din- 
ner, on  the  fast  midnight  train  that  reaches 
New  York  in  time  for  him  to  address  the 
Medical  Society  there  to-morrow  evening  at 
a  meeting  especially  called  to  hear  him.  He 
sails  early  next  morning  for  Germany.  He 
has  asked  me  to  accompany  him  to  New 
York,  and  to  share  his  time  before  the  so- 
ciety there.  I  need  not  add  that  I  quickly 
accepted  this  unusual  honor!" 

"I  can  see  you  now,"  the  young  woman 
began,  her  deep  eyes  eloquent  with  feeling. 
"  I  can  see  you  now,  telling  the  great  men  of 
your  profession  about  the  wonderful  dis- 
covery you  have  made!"  She  was  like  a 
young  prophetess,  as  she  continued.  "Oh, 

53 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  thousands  of  children — and  mothers  — 
to  whose  suffering  bodies  and  breaking 
hearts  you  are  bringing  this  blessing!  And 
at  Christmas-time  —  the  day  of  Him  who 
took  the  little  ones  to  His  own  heart! "  She 
touched  his  sleeve,  almost  reverently.  "  To 
think  that  your  arms  are  even  now  reaching 
around  the  whole  world,  bearing  this  gift!" 

"  That  part  of  it  is  all  right,"  he  acknowl- 
edged, remembering  that  surgeons  must  sub- 
due mere  emotions.  "That  is  all  right,  of 
course,  but  we  are  digressing,  and  I  must 
hurry  on.  Little  time  to  spare,  you  know, 
when  one  is  standing  at  the  threshold  of  an 
important  event  in  the  history  of  medicine, 
with  men  like  Kindtlieb  waiting,  you  might 
say,  for  my  every  word  I  It  occurred  to  me, 
Elizabeth,  that  this  is  a  favorable  occasion 
for  a  more  definite  understanding  between 
us.  I  am  thirty-two  now — full  time  for  a 
physician  to  contract  a  suitable  marriage." 

Elizabeth  started,  in  wonder,  as  a  child 

54 


The  Fourth  Physician 

might  who  sees  through  a  microscope  the 
dainty  gossamer  of  a  butterfly's  wing 
changed  into  coarse,  brilliant  scales.  She 
rose  to  her  feet. 

"Father  will  wish  to  congratulate  you 
upon  the  great  honor  that  has  come  to  you." 

"Let  me  finish,"  the  physician  insisted, 
and  the  girl  hesitated  under  his  dominating 
will.  "You  must  know,  Elizabeth,  of  my 
deep  affection  for  you  —  particularly  since 
my  interview  with  your  father." 

"I  know  nothing  of  that!"  she  cried,  in 
surprise. 

"I  remember  now  that  our  conversation 
took  place  as  we  drove  to  the  station  in  my 
car  the  morning  he  started  South.  I  flatter 
myself  he  does  not  disapprove  of  my  suit.  I 
am  bringing  it  all  to  you,  Elizabeth — my 
professional  honor  and  eminence  —  " 

"  I  shall  expect  more  than  that !  I  want  to 
know  that  you  have  a  soul! " 

Her  manner  brought  him  as  much  of  sur- 

55 


The  Fourth  Physician 

prise  as  a  successful  young  physician  should 
permit  himself  to  feel.  For  a  moment  his 
highly  trained  mind  grappled  with  the  phe- 
nomenon. Then  a  singular  thing  occurred; 
he  had  the  courage  and  the  unshaken  nerve 
to  take  out  his  watch,  as  when  he  counted  the 
heart-beats  of  a  dying  child. 

"Time  is  flying,  Elizabeth,  and  time 
means  much  to  me  —  to  us  both,  just  now!" 

"I  tried  to  tell  you  a  few  minutes  ago, 
Livingston,  about  Dr.  Warren's  patient  who 
is  dying.  He  has  done  what  he  could.  You 
alone,  of  all  the  men  on  earth,  can  save  her 
now!  Won't  you  stop  for  just  a  little  while 
as  you  are  reaching  for  fame  and  honor,  and 
hold  out  your  hands  —  your  strong,  skilful 
hands  —  in  a  Christmas  benediction  upon 
that  poor,  unhappy  home  ? ' ' 

Dr.  Shepherd's  present  case  was  develop- 
ing differently  from  what  his  careful  prog- 
nosis had  led  him  to  expect.  Such  incidents 
stung  him  always,  indicating  careless  or  mis- 

56 


The  Fourth  Physician 

taken  work.  As  a  highly  trained  observer, 
it  was  a  reflection  upon  his  skill.  Some- 
thing seemed  to  be  eluding  him  as  he  turned 
the  subject  over  in  his  mind.  He  recalled 
cases  he  had  seen  where  physicians  had  be- 
come panic-stricken  at  some  unexpected  turn 
for  the  worse.  Such  emotions  never  con- 
quered him.  This  was  the  time  for  quick  and 
decisive  action ;  all  his  instincts  told  him  that. 
There  were  but  two  things  possible  in  the 
crisis,  and  he  chose  the  wrong  one. 

"Elizabeth,"  he  said  with  professional 
brevity,  "  if  all  the  little  paupers  in  the  city 
lay  dying,  I  could  not  spare  time  to  attend 
one  of  them.  Why  should  this  fad  of  the 
slums  continually  be  coming  between  us? 
I  am  devoting  my  entire  career  to  saving 
life  —  thousands  of  children's  lives!  Am  I 
not  doing  my  best  —  the  best  of  any  man  on 
earth?" 

"  Then,  won't  you  go  to  that  dying  child? " 
"  I  cannot  spare  the  time,  and  frankly,  if  I 

57 


The  Fourth  Physician 

could  I  would  not  go.  You  have  heard  what 
I  came  to  tell  you.  I  am  expecting  an  an- 
swer." 

"I  cannot  trust  myself  to  answer  you 
now!" 

For  a  moment  he  studied  her  carefully,  as 
she  stood  waiting  for  him  to  leave.  He 
bowed  distantly,  and  she  saw  him  go. 

Her  father  re-entered  the  room,  and  she 
met  him  under  the  chandelier  upon  which 
Hilary  had  carefully  hung  the  mistletoe. 
Then  she  burst  into  tears,  and  hid  her  face 
upon  his  shoulder. 


58 


The  Fourth  Physician 


DR.  SHEPHERD'S  offices  were  upon 
the  top  floor  of  a  tall  building  that 
shot  skyward  above  humbler  neighbors  built 
soon  after  the  great  fire.  His  laboratory  oc- 
cupied the  north  rooms  where  nature  con- 
tributed the  true,  white  light  so  necessary  to 
research,  leaving  the  southern  exposure 
available  for  reception  rooms.  He  had 
learned  as  a  boy  in  the  country  the  value  of 
sunshine  and  good  cheer,  and  had  cunningly 
utilized  this  knowledge  in  arranging  his  pro- 
fessional establishment.  The  pale  golden 
color  of  the  walls  made  people  think  of 
meadow  lands  in  June,  even  when  clouds 
were  heaviest  or  the  western  wind  floated  a 
veil  of  smoke  over  the  city.  The  white 
enamelled  woodwork  and  the  rich,  clean- 
looking  furniture  were  suggestive  of  sanita- 
tion. There  were  a  few  selected  books  and 

59 


The  Fourth  Physician 

magazines  upon  the  table.  A  landscape  in 
oil,  excellently  hung,  had  the  quality  of  in- 
teresting impatient  people  who  studied  its 
trees  and  wondered  how  the  painter  had 
managed  to  catch  the  gentle  sway  of  the 
summer  breeze.  Near  the  entrance  stood  an 
attendant's  desk,  with  the  usual  telephone 
equipment.  A  large,  sunny  waiting-room 
was  devoted  to  the  entertainment  of  children 
and  contained  precisely  the  things  to  delight 
little  patients.  Sometimes  expeditions  to 
the  city's  parks  were  abandoned  and  sub- 
stantial fees  entered  upon  Dr.  Shepherd's 
books  because  of  this  feature.  There  were 
fascinating  toys  of  the  latest  kinds,  and  a 
sweet-voiced  girl  with  a  talent  for  games  had 
charge  of  the  room  during  the  hours  when 
the  young  specialist  might  be  consulted.  The 
private  office  made  you  feel  better  for  hav- 
ing entered  it;  lest  the  grim  element  of  his 
work  be  overlooked,  however,  the  white  silk 
hangings  of  a  spotless  case  of  ample  propor- 

60 


The  Fourth  Physician 

tions  were  drawn  aside  with  consummate 
carelessness,  and  gleaming  surgical  instru- 
ments might  be  seen  upon  the  glass  shelves 
within. 

Catherine  Lewis  was  an  assistant  in  the 
laboratory  where  the  discovery  that  Dr. 
Kindtlieb  was  about  to  honor  had  been  so 
brilliantly  worked  out.  After  taking  her 
degree  at  one  of  the  universities,  she  had 
done  post-graduate  work  in  scientific  sub- 
jects, but  her  father's  death  altered  all  of 
her  plans.  She  entered  a  training  school, 
completed  its  course,  and  became  a  nurse. 
One  of  her  first  cases  brought  her  to  the 
notice  of  Dr.  Shepherd  who  chanced  to  learn 
of  her  research  work,  and  was  quick  to  rec- 
ognize in  her  the  type  of  laboratory  assistant 
he  wanted.  For  several  years  she  had  been 
in  his  service,  and  was  deeply  absorbed  in 
the  discovery. 

On  this  Christmas  Eve  the  attendant  was 
ill,  and  Miss  Lewis  had  taken  charge  of 

61 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  reception-room.  She  was  a  serene  and 
wholesome  young  woman,  and  the  white  uni- 
form and  cap  of  her  school  that  she  still  wore 
loyally,  harmonized  with  other  details  of  the 
offices.  It  was  five  o'clock,  and  she  was  an- 
swering a  telephone  call : 

"This  is  Dr.  Shepherd's  office.  .  .  . 
I'm  afraid  not,  madame;  the  Doctor  has  an 
important  engagement,  and  leaves  on  the 
midnight  train  for  New  York.  Will  Wed- 
nesday, at  4:30,  be  convenient?  .  .  .  The 
name,  please?  .  .  .  Oh,  Mrs.  Fairington! 
Thank  you,  madame.  Wednesday  after- 
noon, at  4 :30." 

She  hung  up  the  receiver  with  a  smile, 
and  was  noting  the  appointment  in  the  en- 
gagement book,  when  Dr.  Robert  Warren 
entered. 

"Good-afternoon,  Miss  Lewis.  Is  Dr. 
Shepherd  in?" 

"  No,  Dr.  Warren.  He  has  not  been  here 
since  morning.  But  I  expect  him  soon." 

62 


The  Fourth  Physician 

She  hesitated  for  a  moment  and  added, 
"  He  will  be  very  busy  when  he  comes.  He 
dines  with  Dr.  Kindtlieb  this  evening." 

"Dr.  Kindtlieb!    Of  Berlin?" 

'Yes,  Doctor.  They  both  leave  on  the 
midnight  train  for  New  York,  where  they 
address  a  meeting  of  the  Medical  Society, 
notwithstanding  it  being  Christmas.  It  is 
their  only  chance  of  hearing  Dr.  Kindtlieb 
there,  as  he  sails  early  next  morning  for 
home." 

She  could  see  from  Dr.  Warren's  ex- 
pression that  he  was  keenly  disappointed. 

"Dr.  Kindtlieb  is  very  much  interested 
in  the  discovery.  It  is  a  splendid  recognition 
of  Dr.  Shepherd's  work." 

"Yes,  and  he  deserves  it,"  Warren  re- 
plied. "It  is  wonderful!  Already  I  yearn 
to  be  administering  it  to  my  little  patients 
on  the  West  Side." 

"It  would  be  dangerous,  just  now,  to 
entrust  the  formula  to  any  one  not  familiar 

63 


The  Fourth  Physician 

with  it.  But  he  is  rapidly  standardizing  it, 
and  before  long  physicians  will  be  using  it  in 
every-day  practice." 

"But  I  need  it  now!"  Warren  replied, 
reverting  to  the  purpose  of  his  call.  "  And 
the  discovery  needs  such  a  test  as  the  case 
which  brings  me  here!  Can  you  tell  me 
where  Dr.  Shepherd  is?" 

"Did  you  inquire  at  the  Children's  Hos- 
pital?" 

'  Yes.  He  had  not  been  there  since  morn- 
ing." 

"Is  it  one  of  —  of  your  own  cases,  Doc- 
tor?" 

"Yes,  Miss  Lewis.  A  poor  woman's 
only  child.  She  is  far  past  my  skill,  and  it  is 
important  that  Dr.  Shepherd  see  her  at  once. 
Without  him,  she  will  die  before  midnight." 

"Perhaps  he  is  at  Dr.  Kindtlieb's  hotel. 
He  is  stopping  at  the  Michigan." 

"  I  will  go  there,  and  if  I  do  not  find  him, 
will  return." 

64 


The  Fourth  Physician 

VI 

IT  was  nearly  six  o'clock  when  Dr.  Shep- 
herd reached  his  office.  He  handed  his 
fur-lined  overcoat  to  Miss  Lewis — he  was 
accustomed  to  being  served. 

"I  am  late,  Miss  Lewis.  It  has  been 
rather  a  trying  day  for  me." 

His  complacent  mastery  of  self  and  situa- 
tion rarely  tolerated  and  never  invited  sym- 
pathy. Miss  Lewis  knew  this. 

"  I  tried  earlier  in  the  afternoon  to  reach 
you  at  the  Children's  Hospital,"  she  re- 
marked. 

"Not  been  there  since  morning.  One 
must  learn  to  submit  to  much,  when  conse- 
crating his  life  to  a  mighty  work." 

"Yes,  Doctor." 

He  was  looking  over  the  engagement 
book,  and  she  noticed  that  he  was  beginning 
to  regain  his  usual  good  spirits. 

"Nothing   important,    I    see,"   he   com- 

65 


The  Fourth  Physician 

mented.  "  Mrs.  Fairington  —  Reginald's 
mamma!"  He  smiled  indulgently.  "You 
remember  Reginald  ? ' ' 

"Yes,  Doctor;  quite  well." 

"Healthy  little  animal!  You  told  Mrs. 
Fairington  I  am  called  to  New  York? " 

"Yes,  Doctor." 

"I  see  that  you  made  an  appointment 
with  her  for  Wednesday  afternoon.  It  is 
quite  possible  that  the  Medical  Society  of 
New  York  will  want  to  give  me  a  dinner, 
and  that,  of  course,  would  delay  my  return. 
Should  this  be  the  case,  I  will  wire  you,  and 
you  will  postpone  all  engagements.  In 
doing  so,  you  will  naturally  furnish  full  par- 
ticulars of  my  absence — Dr.  Kindtlieb, 
paper  before  the  New  York  Society,  the  din- 
ner, and  all  that  I  It  will  not  be  necessary  to 
mention  that  Dr.  Kindtlieb  has  only  recently 
become — er — acquainted  with  me." 

"  I  think  I  understand,  Doctor." 

"  I  am  sure  you  do,"  he  condescendingly 

66 


The  Fourth  Physician 

agreed.  "  I  shall  dress  for  dinner  here,  and 
devote  the  remaining  time  to  arrangement  of 
data  for  my  paper  before  the  Society  in  New 
York.  I  am  not  to  be  disturbed.  Of  course, 
if  Dr.  Kindtlieb  should  drop  in,  and — er — 
insists  upon  seeing  me  personally,  you  might 
let  me  know."  And  he  laughed  pleasantly. 
"However,  you  need  not  wait  longer  than 
six-thirty.  Good-night ! " 

He  crossed  over  to  the  door  of  his  pri- 
vate office. 

"Oh,  yes!  I  nearly  forgot  —  so  busy 
these  days,  you  know.  I  am  rather  gratified 
that  you  will  be  in  charge  of  the  office  during 
my  absence,  and  shall  expect  you  to  be  on 
duty  to-morrow.  Sorry,  if  this  disturbs  any 
plans  you  may  have  for  Christmas  day,  but 
the  newspapers  are  likely  to  ask  for  informa- 
tion concerning  my  trip  with  Dr.  Kindtlieb, 
the  discovery,  and  the  New  York  lecture. 
Unfortunately,  a  doctor  is  not  permitted  to 
advertise  his  business  as  other  men  may." 

67 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Very  well,  Doctor;  I  shall  be  here,"  she 
assured  him,  hiding  her  disappointment. 

He  had  hardly  closed  the  door  behind  him 
when  Hilary  Brooks  walked  in.  He  was 
wrapped  about  in  a  huge  storm  coat,  several 
sizes  too  large  for  his  frail  body,  and  wore 
an  old-fashioned  silk  hat,  which  he  removed 
ceremoniously. 

"Ebenin',  ma'm!  Ah  is  lookin'  foh  Doc- 
tah  Robert  Warren,  de  charity  doctah.  Kin 
you  infohm  me  ef  dis  is  his  orfice? " 

"  No ;  this  is  not  his  office,  but  he  was  here 
a  few  minutes  ago." 

"  Jes'  lef,  you  say,  ma'm?  Den,  Ah  mus' 
bid  you  good-day." 

"  He  is  likely  to  return  before  very  long." 

"Ef  dat  is  de  case,  ma'm,  Ah  suttinly  is 
glad  to  heah  hit ! "  He  fished  into  his  pocket 
and  produced  a  letter.  '  You  see,  ma'm,  dis 
am  a  mos'  impohtant  matter!  Po'  little  sick 
chile  er-dyin'  ovah  on  de  Wes'  Side!  Marse 
Calendah  —  de  Gunnel,  you  undahstan', 

68 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ma'm  —  an'  Little  Miss,  an'  Doctah  War- 
ren, all  ob  'em,  been  tryin'  ter  git  de  bes' 
chillun's  doctah  in  de  city  ter  'tend  de  chile, 
but  'pear  like  he  kinder  side-steppin'  de  case ! 
So  Marse  Calendah  he  writ  dis  lettah  ter 
Doctah  Warren  tellin'  him  ef  he  ain'  able  ter 
git  de  ver'  bes'  doctah,  den  he  is  ter  hiah  de 
nex'  ver'  bes'  doctah,  an'  sen'  him  right  ovah 
ter  de  little  sick  chile.  Marse  Calendah  he 
han'  me  dis  lettah  hisse'f,  an'  'struct  me  ter 
fine  Doctah  Warren.  Ah  wah  ter  come  heah 
ter  No.  1866  Dependence  Buildin'  fu'st,  an' 
ef  he  ain'  heah,  ter  go  on  ovah  ter  de  Wes' 
Side  whah  de  little  chile  an'  her  ma  lib. 
Yassum,  Marse  Calendah  allus  sen'  me  when 
he  gotter  be  suah  ob  habin'  er  thing  done 
right!" 

"I  would  be  glad  to  deliver  your  letter 
to  Dr.  Warren  when  he  comes,  if  you  care 
to  leave  it  with  me." 

"Leabe  er  lettah  wid  anybody  else  dat 
Marse  Calendah  say  Ah  is  ter  pussonally  de- 

69 


The  Fourth  Physician 

livah!"  he  protested.  "Ah  'predates  yo* 
cou'tesy,  ma'm —  yassum,  Ah  suttinly  do  — 
but  Ah'd  jes'  as  soon  think  ob  leavin'  you 
mah  beavah!"  And  he  laughed  good- 
naturedly,  as  he  stroked  his  precious  hat. 

"Won't  you  be  seated?"  she  asked  hos- 
pitably, her  eyes  twinkling  as  she  regarded 
his  headgear.  It  seemed  safe  to  change  the 
subject.  "Unusual  weather,  isn't  it?" 

"  Hit  sho'ly  am ;  but  den  Ah  is  frequently 
obsehved  dat  all  weathah  am  considahed  mo* 
er  less  unusual." 

"I  think  I  must  have  heard  of  you  be- 
fore." 

"Dat  so,  ma'm?"  he  responded,  im- 
mensely interested.  "  P'rhaps  we  is  favohed 
wid  mutual  'quaintances." 

"Dr.  Shepherd  has  often " 

"'Scuse  me  foh  int'ruptin',  ma'm,  but 
what  Doctah  Shepherd  you  'lude  ter? " 

"Dr.  Livingston  Shepherd  —  this  is  his 
office,  you  know." 

70 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Doctah  Shepherd's  orfice!  Ah  nevah 
knowed  dat!" 

"  Then  you  did  n't  notice  his  name  on  the 
door?" 

Unwittingly  she  had  touched  his  tender 
spot. 

"Well,  ma'm,  you  see  when  Ah  stahts 
out  ter  'complish  er  puppose,  Ah  don'  nevah 
seem  ter  hab  no  time  ter  go  traipsin'  'round 
readin'  signs  on  no  do's.  Ah'se  got  mo'  ter 
'complish  in  dis  life  dan  dat  soht  ob  thing! 
An'  so  dis  am  Doctah  Shepherd's  orfice! "  he 
mused.  "  Am  he  heah? " 

"  Yes,  the  Doctor  is  in." 

"De  Lawd  be  praise'!" 

The  old  man's  delight  on  learning  of  Dr. 
Shepherd's  presence  was  a  puzzle  to  Miss 
Lewis.  She  was  about  to  question  him 
further,  when  the  telephone  called  her  away. 
It  was  Mrs.  Fairington  again,  and  it  seemed 
important  that  Dr.  Shepherd  should  see  her 
Reginald  before  leaving  the  city. 

71 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Is  he  seriously  ill? "  Miss  Lewis  inquired, 
earnestly. 

His  mother  was  afraid  he  would  be,  as  the 
result  of  an  escapade  in  the  park;  he  had 
been  found  tobogganing  with  forbidden  and 
impossible  little  boys!  His  feet  were  cold 
when  Nursie  brought  him  home,  and  Mamma 
felt  it  necessary  that  Dr.  Shepherd  see  him 
at  once.  Miss  Lewis  was  sympathetic  but 
feared  her  chief  would  hardly  be  able  to  see 
the  boy,  as  he  was  to  dine  with  Dr.  Kindtlieb, 
the  eminent  specialist  from  Berlin.  But  she 
agreed  to  disobey  orders  so  far  as  to  permit 
Mrs.  Fairington  herself  to  discuss  Regi- 
nald's case  with  the  Doctor,  and  switched 
in  the  line  to  the  private  office.  A  few  mo- 
ments later  the  young  physician  opened  the 
door. 

"Miss  Lewis!"  he  said,  "I  have  prom- 
ised Mrs.  Fairington  to  call  at  her  home  for  a 
few  minutes  before  leaving  the  city.  Enter 

72 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  charge  now  —  I  might  overlook  it  on  my 
return  from  New  York." 

"Will  you  have  the  time,  Doctor?  Your 
appointment  with  Dr.  Kindtlieb,  you 
know!" 

"  I'll  have  to  take  the  time.  She  is  appre- 
hensive about  the  boy.  I  will  drive  out  for 
a  few  minutes  before  dinner,  and  see  if  we 
cannot  pull  him  through ! " 

Hilary  Brooks  had  risen,  and  was  await- 
ing his  opportunity.  His  manner  was  so  un- 
obtrusive that  Shepherd  had  not  noticed  him. 

"Bring  me  the  last  lot  of  microscopical 
specimens  from  the  laboratory,  Miss  Lewis. 
I  shall  take  them  to  New  York  with  me." 

"Pardon  me,  Doctor — have  you  def- 
initely decided  to  take  them?  You  may  re- 
member we  were  not  entirely  satisfied  with 
them." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,"  he  admitted 
with  some  embarrassment;  "they  are  not  as 

73 


The  Fourth  Physician 

convincing  as  I  should  like  them  to  be.  We 
really  should  have  had  another  month's  re- 
search along  that  particular  line." 

He  turned,  frowning,  and  saw  Hilary. 

"Why,  hello,  Hilary!"  he  cried,  momen- 
tarily forgetting  his  professional  dignity  in 
the  surprise  of  seeing  the  old  man.  "  What 
brings  you  here? " 

"Ole  niggah  sorter  drap  in  on  you  un- 
awares ob  whah  he  am  at ! " 

"I  thought  possibly  —  er  —  Colonel  Bed- 
ford had  sent  you  —  with  a  message?"  Shep- 
herd suggested. 

"No,  sah;  ef  Marse  Calendah  got  any 
word  fob  you  he  mighty  li'ble  ter  fotch  hit 
hisse'f.  Ah  didn't  eben  know  dis  wah  yo' 
orfice  when  Ah  come,  but  now  dat  Ah  is 
heah,  Ah  hab  er  message  fob  you,  sah." 

"You  may  deliver  it,"  the  young  man 
vouchsafed.  "  I  am  very  busy." 

For  a  moment  Hilary  stood  confused,  not 

74 


I  have  no  discovery  to  make.      //  is  a  failure,'1 

[  Page  1 25  ] 


The  Fourth  Physician 

certain  how  he  should  begin.    Then  his  ex- 
pression brightened. 

"Doctah,  Ah  is  er  old  man.  Dese  pil- 
grim feet  am  fas'  carryin'  me  ter  de  Bordah- 
land!  Foh  many  er  yeah  Ah  been  journey- 
in'  de  road  dat  yo'  yo'se'f  is  jes*  beginnin' — 
dat  is  mah  'polergy  foh  'dressin'  you  now. 
On  de  long,  long  road  dere  am  rocks  an'  pit- 
falls, an'  gaps  whah  de  bridges  been  washed 
out  in  de  darkness  ob  de  night  1 " 

'  Yes  I    But  what  is  your  message? " 

"Dis  is  de  message  Ah  hab  foh  you:  Dere 
am  only  one  Light  dat  kin  pen'trate  de  dark- 
ness ob  dat  road!" 

"But  why  do  you  bring  this — this  mes- 
sage tome?" 

" Doctah,  Ah  knows  dat  dyin'  chile!  Her 
baby  fingahs  hab  teched  mah  old  black  han's 
an'  face!  Ah  also  knows  yo'  skill!  Can't 
you  see,  sah?  Foh  jes'  dis  night,  de  Light  is 
off ahed  ter  you ! " 

75 


The  Fourth  Physician 

With  a  gesture  of  impatience,  the  fashion- 
able physician  walked  briskly  away.  He 
hesitated,  with  his  hand  upon  the  door ;  some- 
thing forced  him  to  turn  and  look  back  at  the 
aged  negro.  Then  with  a  troubled  face  he 
closed  the  door  behind  him. 

"  Now  some  folks  might  be  disoncouraged 
by  de  way  dat  young  doctah-man  conduct 
hisse'f,"  Hilary  mused.  "De  idear  ob  his 
wastin'  all  dat  good  time  gwine  up  dar  ter 
'scribe  candy-pills  foh  er  little  fellah  wid 
nuffin  de  mattah  'ceptin'  er  terborgan  ride! 
Howsomevah,  dis  is  er  big  city,  an'  Ah 
reckon  we  kin  fine  some  uddah  feesician  foh 
de  sick  chile  ovah  in  de  Settlement." 

He  felt  vanquished,  notwithstanding  his 
effort  to  make  the  best  of  the  situation.  He 
started  back  to  his  corner  from  which  he  had 
so  valiantly  but  so  gently  sallied  forth.  A 
photograph  upon  the  wall  arrested  his  atten- 
tion. 

"Dat  mos'  prob'bly  am  one  ob  de  uddah 

76 


The  Fourth  Physician 

famous  young  doctah-men,"  he  commented. 
"  De  crit'cism  Ah  makes  ob  pictures  ob  great 
young  men,  is  dat  dey  take  hit  ser  hard  tryin* 
ter  look  great!" 

Hilary's  critical  moods  never  lasted  long. 
Life  was  too  full  of  beautiful  things,  of 
things  worth  while,  to  waste  time  hunting  for 
less  than  the  best. 

"Ah'se  allus  had  reason'ble  good  luck 
mahse'f,"  he  used  to  tell  such  of  his  friends  as 
complained  of  trifles,  "  an'  Ah  don't  take  no 
stock  in  folks  dat  kicks  continuous.  Suttin 
niggah  tole  me  onct  dat  he  been  chased  an' 
pursued  by  misfohtune  all  his  life.  Come 
ter  pin  him  down,  Ah  finerly  discovah  dat 
de  wuss  thing  evah  happen  ter  him  consisted 
ob  one  of  dese  heah  yaller- jacket  bumble 
bees  stingin'  de  fore  laig  ob  er  ole  hoss  stand- 
in'  in  a  puddle  ob  dirty  water  jes'  as  dat  nig- 
gah pass  by  in  his  Sunday  clothes ! " 

He  was  too  keen  and  too  just  an  observer 
of  people  and  things  to  content  himself  with 

77 


The  Fourth  Physician 

inaccurate  or  unfair  judgment,  and  the  firm 
courageous  mouth,  the  keen  challenging  eyes 
of  the  young  man  in  the  photograph  were 
not  overlooked. 

"  Too  bad  Ah  can't  see  his  uddah  ear,"  he 
reflected  with  an  impulse  to  turn  the  print 
around.  "  Ah'se  er  great  han'  foh  studyin* 
folkses'  lef '  ears.  Lot  ob  human  nature  stick 
out  all  ovah  er  man's  lef  ear ! " 

He  was  absorbed  in  conjecture  as  to  what 
sort  of  a  defence  the  famous  young  man  on 
the  wall  would  make  against  the  forces  that 
had  attacked  Dr.  Shepherd  that  afternoon, 
when  Calendar  Bedford  and  his  daughter 
entered  the  reception  room.  Reinforcements 
had  arrived,  and  Hilary  welcomed  them. 

"Marse  Calendah!"  he  began.  "You 
nevah  tole  me  dat  No.  1866  Dependence 
Buildin'  wah  Dr.  Shepherd's  orfice!  Jes* 
bline,  staggahin'  niggah  luck  gimme  de 
chance  ter  see  him ! " 

"Is  he  here  now?"  Bedford  inquired. 

78 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Yassah,  he  heah." 

"Have  you  found  Dr.  Warren?" 

"  No,  sah ;  but  he  expected  heah  ver*  soon, 
too." 

"Then  I  shall  probably  see  him  myself. 
You  hurry  on  over  to  little  Jeannette's 
home,  and  leave  the  letter  for  him  there." 

"Yessah." 

It  was  not  Bedford's  first  call  at  Dr.  Shep- 
herd's offices. 

"Rather  a  cheerful  place,  is  it  not?"  he 
remarked  to  his  daughter.  "  The  laboratory 
is  the  interesting  part  of  it  —  that  is  a  real 
work-shop!  The  rest  of  the  establishment 
always  gave  me  the  feeling  of  being  in  a  sort 
of  conservatory,  devoted  to  unnatural 
growths  in  an  unnatural  atmosphere." 

He  felt  that  Elizabeth  needed  diversion. 
On  her  first  appeal  he  had  refused  to  bring 
her  to  the  place,  knowing  how  hard  it  was 
for  her  to  ask  it,  but  she  had  convinced  him 
that  it  would  be  harder  not  to  come.  He 

79 


The  Fourth  Physician 

was  chatting  about  Miss  Lewis  and  her  part 
of  the  work  when  Dr.  Shepherd  emerged 
from  his  consulting  room.  For  a  moment 
he  paused  wondering ;  then  he  advanced  with 
cool,  professional  courtesy. 

"How  do  you  do,  Colonel  Bedford  — 
Miss  Bedford!  Neither  requiring  my  pro- 
fessional services,  I  hope?" 

'  Yes,  but  not  for  ourselves! "  Bedford  re- 
plied shortly.  "  I  have  gathered  from  Eliza- 
beth something  of  your  attitude  in  regard  to 
—  well,  in  regard  to  that  dying  child  over  in 
the  slums.  There  must  have  been  some  mis- 
understanding. Tell  me  what  all  of  this  busi- 
ness is  about!" 

"Perhaps  Miss  Bedford  would  prefer  to 
have  you  accept  her  view  of  the  —  er — the 
misunderstanding.' ' 

"  She  has  told  me  as  much  as  she  cares  to 
have  me  know." 

"  Our  purpose  in  calling  on  him  may  not 
be  quite  clear  to  Dr.  Shepherd,"  Elizabeth 

80 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ventured.  "It  concerns  little  Jeannette  — 
no  one  else!" 

"  I  have  explained  to  your  daughter,  Colo- 
nel Bedford,  that  I  do  not  care  for  the  work 
that  seems  of  especial  interest  to  her.  We 
have  often  discussed  the  matter,  and  I  trust 
you  will  not  misunderstand  me  when  I  tell 
you  that  my  time  just  now  is  most  valuable. 
I  have  an  important  —  " 

When  a  young  man  is  patiently  explain- 
ing how  precious  his  time  is,  nothing  is  more 
irritating  than  to  be  interrupted,  and  Dr. 
Shepherd  stopped  impatiently  as  Miss  Lewis 
came  from  the  laboratory.  Bedford  ad- 
vanced to  greet  her,  with  the  deferential 
courtesy  of  the  old  school. 

"A  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  Miss 
Lewis!" 

"  And  to  you,  Colonel  Bedford! " 

"My  dear,"  her  father  said,  turning  to 
Elizabeth,  "I  want  you  to  meet  Miss 
Lewis." 

81 


The  Fourth  Physician 

The  two  young  women  greeted  each 
other. 

"Miss  Lewis  is  planning  the  pure  milk 
equipment  that  the  little  Mission  Church  is 
to  have.  How  is  your  work  progressing?" 

"Quite  well,  indeed."  Then  she  noticed 
her  employer's  expression.  "There  is  one 
detail  I  would  like  to  ask  you  about,  Colonel 
Bedford.  Would  you  mind  stepping  into 
the  laboratory  for  a  few  minutes?" 

Bedford  looked  puzzled,  but  followed  her 
from  the  room. 

"  It  was  very  hard  for  me  to  come ! "  Eliza- 
beth said,  when  she  and  Shepherd  were  alone. 
"Nothing  less  than  that  dying  girl  could 
have  brought  me!" 

"  I  see  nothing  to  be  gained  by  our  resum- 
ing the  discussion  of  the  case  of  Dr.  War- 
ren's patient." 

"Oh,  there  is  so  much  that  might  be 
gained!  A  child's  life  —  a  mother's  heart! 
Won't  you  go  to  them? " 

82 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"It  would  mean  disappointment  to  Dr. 
Kindtlieb  and  the  other  physicians  who  will 
be  waiting  to  hear  of  my  discovery.  To  ad- 
minister my  specific  to  the  child  might  even 
result  in  missing  the  midnight  train  and  the 
address  before  the  New  York  Society.  I 
cannot  consider  it  for  a  moment! " 

"Don't  you  think  it  more  important  to 
save  that  little  life  than  that  your  discovery 
be  announced  hastily  ?  You  told  me  not  long 
ago,  that  it  would  take  several  months  of 
hard  work  before  the  formula  might  safely 
be  used  by  other  physicians." 

He  flushed  almost  guiltily,  as  he  glanced 
around  to  reassure  himself  that  Miss  Lewis 
had  not  heard  what  Elizabeth  had  said. 

"I  have  worked  hard  since  then,"  he  re- 
plied, "and  am  now  reasonably  confident 
that  it  should  be  announced  under  the  pres- 
ent favorable  conditions." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  do  not  fully  understand 
—  that  you  have  never  seen  such  a  case  as  the 

83 


The  Fourth  Physician 

one  we  have  been  discussing.  For  a  long  time 
it  has  seemed  to  me  that  you  will  not  com- 
pletely appreciate  the  physician's  sacred  ob- 
ligation to  humanity,  until  you,  too,  have 
learned  to  suffer!" 

"  I  have  learned  to  suffer,"  he  answered 
with  almost  childish  simplicity  that  she  had 
never  seen  in  him  before.  "  I  learned  it  early 
in  life.  As  a  boy  I  saw  my  own  mother  taken 
as  I  clung  to  her!" 

With  a  glad,  surprised  smile  upon  her 
face  she  looked  tenderly  into  his  eyes. 

"  Poor  boy ! "  she  murmured. 

"  I  would  be  glad,  if  I  could,  to  do  as  you 
wish,  Elizabeth  —  for  the  sake  of  what  you 
have  been  to  me.  But  I  cannot  —  I  do  not 
see  how  I  can!" 

She  laid  her  hand  gently  on  his  arm.  For 
a  moment  she  felt  that  she  had  won,  and  no 
event  of  her  life  had  ever  given  her  such  hap- 
piness. But  the  old,  hard  look  came  back 
into  his  face. 

84 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"I  am  sorry — it  is  impossible,"  he  said  in 
a  tone  of  finality,  as  Bedford  returned  from 
the  laboratory. 

"Come,  Elizabeth,  we  must  go!"  he  said, 
offering  his  hand  to  Shepherd.  "  Good-bye, 
my  boy!" 

The  physician  bowed  them  out.  Miss 
Lewis  found  him  pacing  back  and  forth 
across  the  floor  when  she  came  in  with  some 
small  strips  of  glass  in  her  hands.  She  stood 
looking  at  him  in  surprise,  but  he  did  not 
seem  aware  of  her  presence.  It  was  not  until 
Dr.  Warren  entered  at  the  hall  door  that  he 
raised  his  head. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  me,  Dr.  Warren? "  he 
inquired  in  a  chilly  tone. 

"  Yes,  very  much,  Dr.  Shepherd.  I  have 
a  patient,  desperately  ill,  whom  I  wish  you 
to  see." 

"Another  of  your  West  Side  paupers,  I 
presume?"  Shepherd  remarked  with  inten- 
tional insolence. 

85 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  It  is  a  little  girl,  who  is  dying! "  Warren 
replied.  '  You  will  find  the  case  of  especial 
interest  —  " 

"  Especial  rot!  How  often  have  I  told  you 
that  I  will  visit  none  of  your  cases?  If  you 
wanted  me  to  see  your  patient,  why  didn't 
you  bring  her  to  my  clinic  this  morning? " 

"Perhaps  you  did  not  understand  me 
fully,  Doctor.  I  explained  that  she  is  dying. 
I  have  done  what  I  could  for  her,  but  I  know, 
and  so  do  you,  that  you  are  the  only  physi- 
cian on  earth  who  can  save  such  a  case! " 

'Your  opinion  is  most  gratifying,  I  am 
sure,  but  apparently  you  are  not  advised  of 
the  value  of  my  time." 

'  Yes,  I  know  you  are  a  busy  man." 

"I  am  to  dine  with  Dr.  Kindtlieb  and 
other  eminent  physicians  this  evening,  after 
which  I  am  to  accompany  Dr.  Kindtlieb  to 
New  York  where  we  both  address  the  Medi- 
cal Society  upon  the  subject  of  my  discovery. 

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The  Fourth  Physician 

Under  such  conditions,  it  impresses  me  as 
presumptuous  for  you  to  ask  me  to  take 
charge  of  the  case  of  a  pauper  child  some- 
where over  in  your  sacred  slums.  It  is  ab- 
surd, Dr.  Warren — quite  absurd! " 

"Dr.  Shepherd,"  Warren  said  patiently, 
in  the  tone  of  one  who  is  about  to  begin  all 
over  again,  "it  seems  to  me  — ' 

Again  the  man  of  fashion  interrupted  him. 

"  I  am  busily  engaged  just  now.    I  have 
no  wish  to  be  other  than  courteous  to  you  — 
for  the  sake  of  old  times,  and  all  that  —  but 
really,  you  must  excuse  me  now! " 

The  slum  doctor  flushed  angrily. 

"I  refuse  to  be  dismissed  by  you  in  this 
insolent  manner,  and  under  such  conditions ! 
Now,  you  will  listen  to  me !  There  is  some- 
thing, or  ought  to  be  something  beyond  our 
mere  personal  impulses,  deeply  concerned  in 
this  matter." 

"What,  pray?" 

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The  Fourth  Physician 

"Fraternal  obligations, — professional 
ethics  —  " 

'You  will  excuse  me  from  discussing 
ethics  with  you!  Suppose  we  resume  the  sub- 
ject sometime  when  I  have  nothing  else  on 
hand?"  And  Dr.  Shepherd  stepped  to  the 
corridor  door,  which  he  swung  open  mean- 
ingly. 

Warren  followed  him  as  if  to  leave;  then 
he  suddenly  slammed  the  door,  and  stood  be- 
fore it  with  folded  arms,  his  eyes  blazing 
dangerously. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  Shepherd  de- 
manded angrily. 

"What  does  it  mean?  You  poor,  be- 
f eathered  cockerel !  You,  who  have  scratched 
up  a  priceless  jewel  —  " 

"  Leave  this  place !  Leave  immediately  — 
I  warn  you!" 

The  laboratory  assistant  stood  transfixed. 
She  had  never  seen  her  employer  angry  be- 

88 


The  Fourth  Physician 

fore,  and  now  his  clenched  fist  seemed  ready 
to  strike. 

Warren  had  no  intention  of  leaving.  He 
had  calmed  down,  and  his  voice  was  cold  with 
bitter  denunciation. 

'  You  miserable  imitation  of  a  real  physi- 
cian!"  he  began,  when  the  other  man  pointed 
meaningly  at  Miss  Lewis. 

"Remember,  sir;  there  is  a  woman  pres- 
ent!" 

"  I  also  remember  there  is  a  woman  pres- 
ent at  the  bedside  of  that  dying  child.  A 
pitiable,  forsaken  woman,  struggling  alone 
for  that  little  life!" 

Shepherd  felt  that  at  least  he  had  diverted 
from  himself  the  ill-bred  comments  of  the 
person  from  across  the  river. 

"You  may  recall  the  fact,  Dr.  Warren, 
that  I  used  to  warn  you  that  you  would  never 
be  a  success  in  life  until  you  learned  to 
control  your  temper ! " 

89 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Oh,  leave  me  out  of  it!"  Warren  sug- 
gested wearily.  Then  he  suddenly  reached 
out  and  took  Shepherd  firmly  by  the  arm, 
and,  as  if  he  were  a  school-boy  led  him  to  a 
chair. 

"Sit  down ! "  he  commanded.  "  I  want  to 
talk  to  you." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  if  I  may  venture  a 
question  in  my  own  office? " 

'  You  are  drifting,  Shepherd,  drifting!  I 
tell  you  this  —  I  who  since  boyhood  have 
paid  homage  to  your  marvellous  nature  — 
since  manhood,  to  your  wonderful  skill! " 


90 


The  Fourth  Physician 

VII 

DR.  SHEPHERD  sat  quietly  for  a 
few  moments.  Then  he  looked  up 
into  the  face  of  his  old  friend. 

'  You  have  never  understood  me,  Warren. 
Our  viewpoints  are  different.  You  have  been 
content  with  small  things,  while  I  have 
reached  for  the  heights!  You  attack  my 
defences  bluntly,  and  assume  because  I  am 
too  busy  to  go  with  you,  that  I  have  no  inter- 
est in  the  child  —  or  perhaps,  for  exactness,  I 
should  say  in  the  child's  disease.  For  reasons 
that  must  be  clear  to  you,  it  is  impossible  — 
quite  impossible — for  me  to  attend  your 
patient.  But  I  am  not  willing  that  her  iso- 
lated case  be  lost  to  science.  May  I  ask 
you,"  he  inquired  professionally,  "when,  in 
this  instance,  you  apprehend  final  dissolu- 
tion?" 

"  She  will  die  before  midnight  unless  you 
go  to  her ! " 

91 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Let  us  not  discuss  further  the  possibility 
of  my  going  to  her."  He  rose  and  went  to  a 
desk,  opened  a  compartment  and  took  out  a 
blank  which  he  examined  with  pride  before 
offering  it  to  Warren.  "Now,  Doctor,  here 
is  a  printed  form  that  I  myself  have  pre- 
pared. You  will  doubtless  return  to  the 
child.  I  desire  that  you  record  the  history 
of  the  case  and  preserve  it  for  me  until  my 
return  from  New  York." 

Warren  ran  his  eye  over  the  form. 

'You  will  carefully  observe  and  note  in 
the  space  provided  for  that  purpose,  if  death 
be  preceded  by  convulsions." 

A  look  of  horror  came  into  the  slum  doc- 
tor's face.  He  folded  the  blank  as  if  to 
pocket  it,  then  deliberately  tore  it  into  small 
pieces,  which  he  held  away  from  him  as  he 
dropped  them  to  the  floor. 

"My  God!  What  is  our  profession  com- 
ing to?" 

"Dr.  Warren,  are  you  losing  your  sanity? 

92 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Or  did  you  lose  it  years  ago  when  you  de- 
clined my  offer  of  a  partnership,  to  make 
your  reputation  among  paupers  and 
crooks?" 

The  man  from  the  Nineteenth  Ward  was 
too  discouraged  to  retaliate,  and  started  to 
leave. 

"  Let  me  get  back  to  my  dying  pauper !  I 
will  not  detain  you  longer ! " 

"  One  moment,  before  you  go.  Now  that 
the  subject  has  been  introduced,  let  me  in- 
quire, as  I  have  often  wished  to  do  before, 
what  was  the  real  cause  of  your  deserting 
your  excellent  professional  prospects  to  de- 
vote your  life  to  —  er  —  charity?" 

'You  were  the  cause  of  it  —  you,  more 
than  anybody  else ! "  Warren  retorted  hotly. 

"Really  —  " 

"  It  was  in  the  second  year  after  we  gradu- 
ated—  the  year  you  succeeded  in  attracting 
society's  attention  to  your  splendid  gifts.  It 
was  on  Christmas  day,  and  oh,  how  cold  it 

93 


The  Fourth  Physician 

was !  We  had  just  left  your  office  after  dis- 
cussing the  partnership  you  had  proposed.  I 
thought  your  terms  hard,  but  had  promised 
an  answer  next  day.  We  parted  at  the  side- 
walk where  you  took  a  cab  for  the  home  of  a 
new-found  friend  where  you  had  been  invited 
to  dine." 

"  I  lost  no  time  in  seeking  practice  then," 
Shepherd  put  in  complacently;  "now  it 
seeks  me." 

"  Within  a  few  blocks  of  where  I  left  you, 
in  passing  a  building,  since  torn  down,  I 
noticed  in  the  partial  shelter  of  its  old-fash- 
ioned stoop,  a  woman  —  a  woman,  mind  you 
—  in  that  blizzard,  with  a  babe  at  her  breast. 
She  looked  up  to  me  in  piteous  appeal  and 
then  to  the  shoestrings  she  had  for  sale. 
Fresh  from  your  influence,  I  recalled  that 
rusty  old  saw  of  yours  to  the  effect  that  the 
unworthy  get  the  bounty  because  those  who 
need  it  are  too  proud  to  accept  help.  But 
the  sight  of  that  child  was  too  much  for  me, 

94 


The  Fourth  Physician 

and  I  stopped  to  give  the  woman  something. 
Then  I  remembered  that  I  had  only  a  dollar, 
and  felt  that  I  could  not  afford  to  give  it 
all." 

As  a  hint  to  his  visitor  Shepherd  reached 
into  his  pocket,  brought  out  a  pair  of  gloves, 
and  began  to  draw  them  on. 

"  I  went  to  the  little  restaurant  where  you 
and  I  used  to  dine  before  you  became  fash- 
ionable, and  had  my  Christmas  dinner  alone, 
but  with  that  woman  and  her  babe  upon  my 
conscience.  I  took  what  was  left  of  the  dol- 
lar and  went  back  to  the  place  where  I  had 
left  them,  but  they  were  gone  —  gone,  I  tell 
you!" 

"  Doubtless  to  a  better  dinner  than  yours 
had  been,  if  I  correctly  remember  the  place 
you  had  patronized!" 

"  I  found  her  bunch  of  shoestrings  driven 
around  a  post  where  they  were  still  whipping 
and  threshing  in  that  zero  gale !  Next  morn- 
ing, the  coroner's  physician,  summoned  else- 

95 


The  Fourth  Physician 

where,  telephoned  me  to  conduct  a  post-mor- 
tem at  the  morgue.    May  Christ  forgive  me ! 
Oh,  may  Christ  forgive  me!     It  was  she  — 
still  clasping  that  starved  babe  to  her  frozen 
breast!" 

Dr.  Shepherd's  manner  suddenly  changed. 
He  stepped  to  the  door  of  his  private  office 
where  he  stood  with  his  partly  gloved  hands 
clasped  behind  him. 

"I  thought  a  good  deal  about  you,  and 
about  myself,  before  I  finished  that  post-mor- 
tem," Warren  continued,  "and  I  decided 
there  were  people  in  this  city  who  needed  me 
more  than  you  did.  And,  strangely  enough, 
as  I  took  the  babe  from  those  frozen  arms, 
I  recalled  your  having  told  me  when  we  were 
in  college  that  your  own  mother's  life  might 
have  been  spared  if  the  physician  had  gone 
promptly  to  her,  instead  of  going  to  a  less 
urgent  case  at  a  rich  man's  house."  He 
walked  slowly  to  one  of  the  windows,  as  a 


The  Fourth  Physician 

new  thought  came  to  him.  '  There  is 
another  claim  upon  you,  Shepherd,"  he  re- 
marked without  looking  around  to  see  what 
effect  his  words  might  have  upon  the  other 
man. 

"What  is  this  other  claim?"  Shepherd 
asked  in  a  low  and  altered  tone. 

"  The  wishes  of  the  woman  who  loves  you." 

Shepherd  started  forward  impulsively 
with  outstretched  hand,  but  the  friend  of  his 
boyhood  had  drawn  aside  the  draperies,  and 
stood  dejectedly  looking  down  upon  the  bril- 
liantly lighted  street. 

The  eminent  young  specialist  began  me- 
chanically to  draw  off  his  gloves,  which  fell 
to  the  floor  at  his  feet;  he  dropped  into  a 
chair  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands. 

A  tower  in  the  distance  caught  the  eye  of 
the  man  from  the  West  Side.  It  was  a 
splendid  structure,  outlined  with  gleaming 
lights  and  surmounted  by  a  golden  figure  of 

97 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Diana  which  turned  slowly  this  way  and  that, 
trimming  itself  to  the  fury  of  the  winter 
gale. 

"  How  much  we  are  doing  to-day,"  War- 
ren said,  as  though  thinking  aloud,  "how 
much  in  the  name  of  Education,  Industry, 
Charity!  God  grant  we  may  learn  to  do 
more  in  the  name  of  Love ! " 

He  had  not  intended  the  words  for  Shep- 
herd—  in  fact,  they  were  not  meant  for  any 
one,  but  Dr.  Shepherd  took  them  into  his 
heart,  and  full  of  gentle  resolution  arose  and 
went  into  his  private  room,  where  Miss  Lewis 
followed  him.  He  deftly  selected  from  the 
glass  case  certain  instruments  which  had 
proven  themselves  worthy  of  his  skill. 

"  Bring  my  best  equipment  for  administer- 
ing the  discovery,"  he  directed.  "  Also  a  sur- 
geon's gown  —  I  shall  have  no  time  to  change 
my  clothes."  The  instruments  were  quickly 
dropped  into  a  case,  and  he  returned  to  the 
reception  room.  Miss  Lewis  brought  from 

98 


The  Fourth  Physician 

the  laboratory  a  leather  bag  and  a  gown  of 
white  clinging  material  loosely  folded. 

For  the  moment  Shepherd  had  forgotten 
about  the  other  doctor,  his  highly  trained 
mind  concentrating  upon  the  work  before 
him.  With  professional  foresight,  he  open- 
ed the  bag  and  glanced  over  its  contents.  As 
he  took  the  gown,  a  shadow  of  indecision 
crossed  his  face.  But  his  laboratory  assist- 
ant already  had  brought  his  overcoat,  and 
with  something  akin  to  joy,  was  holding  it 
for  him.  He  dropped  the  gown  into  the  bag, 
as  Dr.  Warren  turned  gloomily  from  the 
window. 

"Come,  Bob!"  the  physician  of  fashion 
commanded.  "We  must  hurry!  I  shall 
go  with  you." 


99 


The  Fourth  Physician 


VIII 

IT  seemed  to  Warren  that  a  great  hope 
had  been  realized  in  a  most  sudden  and 
unceremonious  manner.  Old  Hilary  him- 
self could  not  have  shown  more  of  the  spirit 
of  the  faithful,  willing  servant,  as  he  eagerly 
took  the  heavy  bag  from  Dr.  Shepherd's 
hand.  Arm  in  arm,  as  though  they  were 
boys  again,  they  went  out  together. 

Miss  Lewis  followed  to  the  corridor  door 
and  stood  looking  at  the  shaft  where  an  ele- 
vator had  taken  them  aboard  and  dropped 
swiftly  out  of  sight.  One  by  one,  other  cars 
bobbed  up,  and  on  the  stroke  of  a  signal  bell 
were  gone ;  but  she  remained  standing  in  the 
doorway,  until  the  insistent  clamor  of  the 
telephone  called  her  to  her  desk. 

"This  is  Dr.  Shepherd's  office,"  she 
answered.  "Who  is  speaking?  ...  A 
newspaper  reporter?  .  .  .  No,  Dr. 

100 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Shepherd  is  not  in.  He  has  just  left  on  an 
important  case.  ...  I  cannot  say 
whether  he  will  accompany  Dr.  Kindtlieb  to 
New  York  —  it  will  depend  upon  his  little 
patient's  condition !  He  will  not  leave  her  in 
danger  even  for  so  great  an  honor  as  Dr. 
Kindtlieb  has  conferred  upon  him !  .  .  .  I 
cannot  tell  you  more.  Good-bye ! " 

It  struck  her  with  almost  comical  direct- 
ness as  she  replaced  the  receiver  upon  its 
hook,  that  her  "interview"  for  the  news- 
papers, as  prepared  in  advance,  had  been 
vigorously  blue-pencilled.  She  was  smiling 
at  the  thought  when  Dr.  Warren  returned. 

"Miss  Lewis,"  he  cried  eagerly,  "Dr. 
Shepherd  has  hurried  on  to  little  Jeannette, 
and  sent  me  back  to  ask  you  to  join  him  there 
—  he  will  need  you." 

She  rose  responsively. 

"I  am  also  to  telephone  his  apologies  to 
Dr.  Kindtlieb.  He  will  have  to  cut  out  the 
dinner!" 

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The  Fourth  Physician 

She  had  just  gotten  the  Michigan  on  the 
line  when  a  big,  handsome  man  of  Teutonic 
appearance  entered  the  room.  He  was 
about  fifty-five,  with  heavy  white  hair  and 
square-trimmed  beard.  He  glanced  about 
through  the  thick  lenses  of  his  small  foreign- 
looking  gold  spectacles. 

"Iss  Dr.  Shepherd  in?"  he  asked  with  a 
shade  of  German  accent.  "  I  am  Dr.  Kindt- 
lieb." 

Miss  Lewis  put  aside  the  telephone  and 
explained  that  Dr.  Shepherd  had  just  left 
the  office. 

"  Ah,  well!  It  iss  not  of  importance.  He 
iss  to  be  my  guest  at  dinner.  I  shall  see  him 
then." 

She  looked  over  to  Warren. 

"  Dr.  Kindtlieb,  this  is  Dr.  Warren.  He 
has  a  message  for  you." 

The  mighty  German  bowed  courteously. 

"Do  I  understand  that  you,  too,  are  a 
physician?" 

102 


The  Fourth  Physician 

'  Yes,  Dr.  Kindtlieb.  I  was  about  to  tele- 
phone you  that  Dr.  Shepherd  will  be  unable 
to  dine  with  you  this  evening.  He  has  a 
little  patient  who  is  very  low — in  fact,  her 
condition  is  such  that  it  may  prevent  his 
joining  you  on  the  midnight  train." 

"  Ah,  I  hope  not!  That  would  be  a  disap- 
pointment!" 

"  I  think  I  may  say,  sir,  that  it  would  be 
the  greatest  disappointment  of  Dr.  Shep- 
herd's life." 

"An  unusual  man,  iss  he  not?  And  his 
discovery  — "  he  inquired  cautiously,  "you 
know  of  that?" 

"Yes,  Dr.  Kindtlieb." 

"Wonderful!  In  passing  to  my  hotel,  I 
chanced  to  see  his  name  upon  the  window 
there.  The  wish  came  to  me  to  see  the  labo- 
ratory where  his  discovery  has  been  worked 
out.  I  find  myself  deeply  interested  in  what 
you  tell  me  of  this  latest  case  of  his.  He 
will  administer  his  treatment  to  the  child  ? " 

103 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Yes,  Dr.  Kindtlieb.  She  is  a  poor, 
fatherless  little  girl  in  a  destitute  home  in 
what  is  sometimes  called  our  'slums'  —  if 
you  know  the  word.  I  found  her  this  morn- 
ing far  beyond  my  skill,  and  I  came  to  Dr. 
Shepherd,  who  was  dressing  for  your  dinner. 
It  is  to  this  case  he  has  gone." 

He  saw  the  blue  eyes  of  the  great  man 
brighten. 

"  It  iss  the  quality  he  has  shown  that  adds 
much  to  the  skill  of  American  practition- 
ers!" 

Miss  Lewis  had  donned  her  wraps  and 
hat,  and  Warren  saw  that  she  was  ready  to 
go. 

"  Pardon  me,  Dr.  Kindtlieb,  while  I  write 
an  address.  Miss  Lewis  here,  who  is  Dr. 
Shepherd's  laboratory  assistant,  is  hurrying 
to  join  him  at  the  home  of  the  little  patient." 
He  wrote  hastily  upon  a  card  which  he  laid 
upon  the  table  for  Miss  Lewis,  who  was 
locking  her  desk. 

104 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Will  you  also  oblige  me  with  Dr.  Shep- 
herd's address?"  Dr.  Kindtlieb  asked. 
"  Should  it  happen  that  I  do  not  see  him 
again,  I  shall  wish  to  write  him  from  Berlin. 
Ah,  I  see  several  cards  upon  the  table  here  — 
may  I  take  one?" 

"Certainly,  sir!"  Warren  replied,  turn- 
ing for  a  word  of  direction  to  Miss  Lewis. 

"  I  must  not  longer  detain  you,"  Dr. 
Kindtlieb  said,  as  he  took  Warren's  hand. 
He  bowed  to  Miss  Lewis  and  left. 

"Now,  Doctor,  the  address,  please!" 

"I  put  it  on  the  table  for  you,  but  it  is 
gone!"  he  cried  in  surprise.  "I  see  what 
became  of  it,  now!  Dr.  Kindtlieb  has  taken 
the  wrong  card." 

"Write  another,  please!"  she  asked,  with 
the  eager  haste  of  a  girl.  "  I  must  lose  no 
time  to-night!" 

Warren  smiled. 

"Why  should  I  have  written  it  at  all? 
We  are  both  going  there ! " 

105 


The  Fourth  Physician 
IX 

TT  was  eleven  o'clock  and  Miss  Lewis 
•*•  stood  at  the  cook-stove  in  Mary  Walk- 
er's home.  She  heard  footsteps  on  the  gal- 
lery outside,  followed  by  a  knock. 

"Come  in,  Dr.  Warren!"  she  called. 

There  was  no  response.  She  crossed  the 
room  and  opened  the  door.  Hilary  Brooks 
stood  at  the  threshold  holding,  with  exag- 
gerated effort,  a  large  hamper,  from  which 
rose  a  small,  gayly  dressed  Christmas  tree, 
partly  obscuring  the  eager  old  face.  He  was 
generously  wrapped,  even  for  so  cold  a  night, 
and  seemed  embarrassed  that  his  precious 
freight  prevented  the  prompt  removal  of  his 
hat. 

"Ah  hopes  you  will  pahdon  me,  ma'm, 
foh  de  retention  ob  mah  beavah—  he 
began. 

"  Certainly,"  Miss  Lewis  replied.  "  Come 
in." 

106 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Hilary  entered. 

"How  am  de  po'  little  sick  chile?"  he  in- 
quired anxiously. 

"We  feel  greatly  encouraged,  but  she  is 
very  ill." 

"  De  Lawd  be  praise'  foh  any  encourage- 
ment when  er  chile  am  sick! " 

"Won't  you  put  down  your  basket?  It 
must  be  heavy." 

"Thank  you,  ma'm;  thank  you  kinely. 
Jes'  er  few  things  —  "he  explained,  carefully 
placing  the  hamper  upon  the  table  and  cere- 
moniously removing  his  hat,  "jes'  er  few 
things  what  Little  Miss  an'  Marse  Calendah 
—  de  Gunnel,  ma'm  —  sent  foh  de  chile  an' 
her  ma.  Leastwise,  Marse  Calendah  call 
'em  er  few,  but  'cording  ter  de  heft  ob  'em, 
dey  am  many!" 

" Did  you  carry  them  far? " 

"No,  ma'm.  De  sho-fer  offahed  ter 
he'p  me  up  de  stairs  wid  de  basket,  but 

107 


The  Fourth  Physician 

'membahin'  he  gotter  hurry  back  wid  de 
car,  ole  niggah  tote  hit  erlone." 

"  Come  over  to  the  stove  and  warm  your- 
self. Are  you  not  cold  ?" 

As  if  suddenly  recalling  something,  Hil- 
ary began  energetically  to  unbutton  his 
ulster. 

"Ah  wouldn't  want  ter  'zactly  say  dat, 
ma'm!  Fact  is,  Ah'se  jes'  de  op'site  —  aldo 
hit  sho'ly  am  er  chilly  night!  One  ob  de 
suahest  specifics  foh  cole  evah  prescribe'  by 
Madeira  Medicker  —  one  ob  de  famous  ole 
doctahs,  you  know,  ma'm  —  am  vig'rous 
ex'cise,  well  rubbed  in ! " 

'You  feel  safe  then?"  she  inquired 
smilingly. 

;'Yassum,  Ah  suttinly  do,"  he  assured 
her,  glancing  at  the  basket.  "  Dat  is,  ef  ole 
Doc'  Medicker  kin  be  depended  on.  How- 
somevah,  Ah  is  allus  made  hit  er  rule  ter  sto' 
up  lots  ob  preserve  strength  foh  Chris'mus 
time  —  we  needs  hit  at  ouah  house! " 

108 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  It  is  a  busy  time  for  most  of  us." 

"Yassum.  Hol'days  allus  gib  me  pal- 
p'tation." 

"Palpitation  of  the  heart?"  Miss  Lewis 
asked,  with  professional  concern. 

"  Wusser'n  dat  —  palp'tation  ob  de  foot," 
he  corrected  her  seriously.  He  had  taken 
off  his  coat  and  was  beginning  to  unwind 
from  neck  and  ears  what  appeared  to  be 
endless  layers  of  red  comforter.  "  Now,  you 
go  right  erlong  wid  yo'  oc'pation,  ma'm." 

"  I  will.     Take  a  chair  and  rest  yourself." 

"Ef  you  quite  suah  you'll  'scuse  me,  Ah 
will  ervail  mahself  ob  yo'  cou'tesy.  Coming 
up  dem  steps  jes'  now  Ah  suttinly  feel 
right  smart  like  Ole  Map  hisse'f." 

"Old  Map?" 

"De  man  what  tote  de  earf  on  he  shoul- 
dah." 

"You  mean  Atlas?" 

"  Yassum ;  Ah  'membahs  now  Marse  Cal- 
endah  do  call  him  dat  paht  ob  de  time,"  he 

109 


The  Fourth  Physician 

admitted,  somewhat  taken  aback.  "'Pears 
like  de  ole  fellah  had  two  names,  but  whed- 
dah  hit  wah  Map  Atlas  er  Atlas  Map,  Ah 
disremembahs  hearin'  Marse  Calendah  say." 
He  had  completed  the  removal  of  his  com- 
forter, and  was  rolling  it  up  with  deliberate 
dignity.  '  Yassum,  Little  Miss  tell  de  sho- 
fer  ter  hurry  home  wid  de  car,  an'  den  she 
tell  me  ter  wait  here  —  which  ef  you  has  no 
erjections,  Ah'll  do." 

"None  at  all!  You  mustn't  mind  my 
being  busy." 

"  Go  right  erlong,  ma'm,"  he  urged, 
carefully  depositing  the  comforter  in  his 
hat.  Then,  as  if  asked  a  question,  he 
continued,  "No'm,  Little  Miss  nevah  say 
why  de  car  gotter  go  back,  but  dis  ole  nig- 
gah  know,  jes'  de  same!  She  mean  dat  her 
an'  Marse  Calendah  gwine  follah  dat  bas- 
ket. Dat  is,  ef  de  comp'ny  we  got  at  ouah 
house  evah  do  rec'lect  dey  got  homes  ob 
deir  own!  Yassum,  Little  Miss  an'  Marse 

110 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Calendah  mighty  li'ble  ter  bring  up  de  rear 
ob  dis  percession."  And  he  chuckled  softly 
at  the  idea. 

'  You  mean  that  Miss  Bedford  is  coming 
here  —  this  dreadful  night  ? " 

"Why,  ma'm,  dat  am'  nuffin  foh  her  an' 
Marse  Calendah  ter  do!  You  see,  us  bein' 
Bedfordses  ob  Hanovah  County,  we  kin  af- 
f ohd  ter  go  whah  we  pleases,  widout  —  well, 
widout  injerin'  ouah  perfessional  rep'ta- 
tions.  Ah  ain'  nevah  seen  one  ob  ouah 
family  what  wah  n't  allus  ready  ter  back  up 
deir  pity  wid  er  ack  ob  kineness.  Marse 
Calendah  of 'en  say,  jes'  like  his  pa  say  be- 
fo'  him,  dat  dere  ain'  no  real  symp'thy  in  de 
worl'  widout  effoht  behine  hit.  Yassum,  dat 
what  they  bof e  say,  an'  what 's  mo',  dat 's  de 
way  dey  bof  e  ack! " 

"And  it's  the  kind  of  sympathy  people 
need  over  in  this  part  of  the  city,  Mr.  —  " 

Hilary  rose  quickly  and  bowed  with  old- 
fashioned  courtesy. 

Ill 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Mah  name  am  Hilary  —  Hilary  Brooks, 
ma'm.  An'  Ah  trus'  yo'  will  pahdon  me, 
but  Ah  don'  nevah  expec'  no  white  folks  ter 
call  me  Mistdh.  Sech  as  perfers  ter  mention 
mah  name  wid  er  entitlement  mos'  gene'lly 
calls  me  Uncle  Hilary." 

"Very  well,  Uncle  Hilary,  I'm  going  to 
ask  you  to  set  this  pan  outside  the  window 
until  it  cools  a  little." 

"  Suttinly!"  Hilary  cried,  rising  respon- 
sively.  "Wid  de  greates'  ob  felickity!" 
He  cautiously  raised  the  sash,  set  the  pan  on 
the  sill,  and  closed  down  the  window  with 
great  haste.  "  Ah  is  not  infohmed  concern- 
in'  de  ingregiums  ob  dat  pan,"  he  remarked, 
rubbing  his  hands  briskly,  "but  whatevah 
hit  am  will  sho'ly  cool  dis  kine  ob  er  night! 
Had  n't  Ah  better  stan'  heah  ready  ter  grab 
hit  back  when  you  gib  de  wohd,  befo'  hit  is 
plumb  frizz?" 

"  Oh,  it  won't  freeze  that  quickly!  I'll  tell 
you  in  plenty  of  time.  It  must  have  been 

112 


The  Fourth  Physician 

hard  for  you  to  accustom  yourself  to  our 
severe  Northern  winters." 

'  Yassum,  it  wah,  at  fu'st.  But  den  Ah 
allus  wraps  mahse'f  up,  as  you  kin  see  foh 
yo'self,"  and  he  waved  his  hand  compre- 
hensively toward  his  ulster,  comforter,  and 
hat.  "Ah  reckon  mos'  South'n  folks  has 
ter  git  used  ter  No'th'n  ways  when  dey 

(come  up  heah,  jes'  like  No'th'n  folks  does 
when  dey  go  Souf.  Ah  foun'  dat  out  de 
fu'st  yeah  me  an'  Marse  Calendah  come  up 
heah.  De  feeshin'  off'n  de  pier  wah  mighty 
good  in  dem  days,  an'  Ah  nevah  could  git 
enough  ob  hit.  Ah  got  'quainted  in  dat  way 
wid  er  generman  dat  uster  feesh  considah- 
ble  hisse'f.  Ah'd  noticed  de  sof,  low  way 
he  allus  spoke,  an'  feelin'  compliment'ry  one 
day  when  Ah  caught  de  bigges'  old  perch 
dat  evah  come  outer  de  lake,  Ah  up  an'  tole 
dis  generman  dat  he  talk  like  er  Southe'nah. 
You  may  know  we  is  right  proud  ob  de  way 
we  talk  in  de  Souf.  '  De  troof  is,'  de  gener- 

113 


The  Fourth  Physician 

man  answah, '  Ah  had  er  ter'ble  spell  ob  dip- 
theery  las'  wintah,  an'  hit  played  de  ver'  ole 
thundah  wid  mah  voice  1'  Ah  reckon  dat 
wah  'bout  de  wuss  thing  evah  happen  ter  me 
up  heah!  But  ain't  you  ready  foh  dat  pan, 
now?" 

"  Not  yet.  When  it  cools  a  little  more  I'll 
take  it  in  to  the  doctor." 

"Ah'se  er  great  han'  foh  doctahs,  ma'm 
— hadder  lot  ob  dealin's  wid  'em!  Back  in 
Hanovah  County,  Ah  knowed  er  suttin  fee- 
sician  dat  hahdly  evah  los'  er  case.  Ob 
cou'se,"  he  qualified  carefully,  "ob  cou'se, 
when  his  patients  gotter  be  er  hunderd,  er 
hunderd  an'  ten  —  anywhah  'roun'  dat  age  — 
onct  in  er  while  dey'd  sorter  gib  de  old  doc- 
tahdeslip!" 

"I'd  call  him  a  successful  practitioner!" 

"Yassum,  he  sho'ly  wah  —  am  yit!  An' 
Doctah  Fred'rick  nigh  on  ter  er  hunderd 
hisse'f  by  now!" 

"  How  do  you  account  for  it?" 

114 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Well,  ma'm,  hits  been  er  long  time  sence 
he  tooken  his  die-plomah,  an'  maybe  as  doc- 
tahs  go  nowerdays  he  ain't  up  ter  what  we 
call  de  las'  minute.  But  he  make  up  foh 
technical  'ficiencies  wid  er  fu'st-rate  mixtuah 
ob  hahd  wuck  an'  prayah.  He  's  er  man  ob 


'You  must  be  a  man  of  faith,  yourself!" 
"Ah  tries  ter  be!  Good  Book  say  ef  we 
got  de  faith  ob  er  little  chile  we  kin  cas'  de 
Alleghany  Mountains  inter  de  sea.  Hit 
nevah  seem  ter  make  no  dif  'rence  ter  Doctah 
Fred'rick  wheddah  hit  wah  er  real  moun- 
tain, er  jes'  one  ob  dese  little  ole  mole-hills 
ob  mis'ry  —  he  allus  gene'lly  foun'  er  way  ob 
disposin'  ob  hit.  Dere  's  er  powah  in  prayah, 
ma'm!" 

"  I  think  you  are  right,  Uncle  Hilary." 

"Yassum,"   he   agreed    with   convincing 

modesty,   "Ah  mos'   allus  is  right  erbout 

mattahs  ob  faith,  'caze  Ah  is  learn'  ter  cas' 

out  doubt.     De  Lawd  gwinter  do  what  am 

115 


The  Fourth  Physician 

right,  an'  He  gwinter  show  us  de  Way! 
Dat  's  why  Ah  so  suah  de  little  sick  chile  in 
dar  gwine  ter  git  well.  Little  Miss  an' 
Marse  Calendah  been  prayin'  foh  her,  too. 
Dey  wah  not  aware  ob  mah  observance,  but 
all  f roo  de  dinnah  ter-night  Ah  see  'em !  De 
'spression  ob  Marse  Calendah's  face,  an'  de 
glisten  ob  tears  in  Little  Miss'  eyes,  wah 
prayah!  Ah'se  of 'en  noticed  dat  whatevah 
Marse  Calendah  go  inter,  he  go  pow'ful 
strong!  Now,  wid  yo'  permission,  ma'm, 
Ah'll  jes'  straighten  out  dis  little  Chris'mus 
tree  —  make  suah  de  candles  am  all  right." 
With  nimble  fingers,  he  adjusted  the  toys 
and  tinsel.  He  then  produced  a  match,  and 
one  by  one,  tiny  stars  of  light  shone  forth 
from  the  branches  of  the  tree.  As  he  fin- 
ished, he  heard  sounds  from  the  sick-room. 
It  was  hard  to  recognize  the  low,  anxious 
voice,  which  was  that  of  Dr.  Shepherd.  He 
was  calling  Miss  Lewis.  Hilary  gazed,  per- 
plexed, in  its  direction. 

116 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"Miss  Lewis!" 

"Yes,  Doctor!  Don't  let  this  boil  over, 
Uncle  Hilary!" 

"  No'm,  Ah  won't."  He  took  the  spoon 
and  began  stirring,  as  the  nurse  stepped  to 
the  door. 

"Has  Dr.  Warren  returned?" 

"  Foh  de  Lawd'  sake! "  Hilary  gasped,  as 
he  dropped  the  spoon  to  the  floor.  He  heard 
Miss  Lewis  explaining  that  Dr.  Warren 
was  not  yet  back. 

"Dat  suttinly  soun3  like  Doctah  Shep- 
herd's voice ! "  He  picked  up  the  spoon  and 
resumed  stirring. 

"  Let  me  know  as  soon  as  he  comes." 

"  Yes,  Doctor."  She  hurried  back  to  the 
stove. 

"We  are  ready  now  for  the  pan  you  set 
outside." 

"Yassum;  suttinly,  ma'm!"  Intent  upon 
the  matter  at  hand  and  forgetting  even 
doctors,  Hilary  opened  the  window,  as  if 

117 


The  Fourth  Physician 

rescuing  the  survivors  of  an  Arctic  expe- 
dition. The  north  gale  whistled  into  the 
room,  as  he  grasped  the  utensil,  which  he 
jostled  apprehensively.  "  Ser  he'p  me  good- 
ness, dem  ingregiums  am'  frizz  arfter  all!" 

Miss  Lewis  left  the  room,  and  the  old  man 
drew  his  chair  up  to  the  stove,  closing  his 
eyes  in  meditation.  Dr.  Warren  entering 
from  the  street,  thought  him  asleep  and  shut 
the  door  gently.  But  when  he  turned,  Hil- 
ary had  risen. 

"Ebenin',  Doctah Warren !  'Low meter 
he'p  you,  sah!"  But  the  physician  was 
chilled  and  did  not  lay  aside  his  overcoat. 
He  relinquished  the  small  parcels  he  carried, 
and  advanced  upon  the  stove,  holding  his 
hands  in  its  warmth. 

"  Pahdon  me,  sah,  but  Doctah  Shepherd 
desiahs  yo'  presence  in  de  nex'  room,  when 
you  is  limbahed  up  yo'  fingahs.  Ah  undah- 
stan's  de  little  sick  chile  am  much  improved. 
But  Ah'll  have  ter  arsk  you  ter  'scuse  me 

118 


The  Fourth  Physician 

now,  sah!    Ah  heahs  Marse  Calendah's  car 
outside!" 

With  astonishing  activity,  he  swaddled 
head  and  ears  in  his  comforter.  Almost 
merrily  Dr.  Warren  watched  him,  and  when 
he  had  gone,  took  up  the  small  parcels  from 
the  table  and  started  to  join  his  associate.  It 
had  been  a  rare  night  for  him,  following  a 
day  of  loss  and  gain.  His  nature,  quickened 
rather  than  blunted  by  the  life  of  sacrifice  he 
had  led,  responded  sympathetically  to  the 
conditions  about  him.  Confidently  surrender- 
ing the  responsibility  of  his  patient  to  the 
skilful  young  physician  in  whose  discovery 
he  had  the  faith  of  a  child,  he  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  review  the  events  of  the  afternoon. 
The  exultation  he  felt  in  the  thought  that 
little  Jeannette  would  recover  tempered 
slightly  the  belief  that  Elizabeth  Bedford 
was  lost  to  him.  Strangely  enough,  his 
mind  had  not  dwelt  upon  the  part  he  him- 
self had  played  in  the  affair.  And,  had  he 

119 


The  Fourth  Physician 

not  regained  the  friend  of  his  boyhood — had 
not  a  child's  life  been  saved!  One  of  the 
packages  he  held  in  his  hand  contained  a 
Christmas  offering  for  the  little  patient.  He 
had  scribbled  upon  it  a  few  words  indicating 
that  it  was  from  Dr.  Shepherd  and  himself. 
He  even  wondered  what  Jeannette  would 
say  when  it  was  given  to  her.  Then  he 
smiled  at  the  thought  that  for  once  in  his 
busy  life,  he  had  ceased  to  be  a  man  of  sci- 
ence and  was  privileged  to  be  for  the  time, 
at  least,  a  man  of  sentiment  and  of  dreams. 
He  was  smiling  gratefully  at  the  thought 
when  the  other  physician  met  him.  Warren 
was  not  prepared  for  what  he  saw.  The 
splendid  color  of  robust  health  had  faded 
from  Shepherd's  face.  His  features  were 
drawn  with  pain  and  disappointment,  but 
his  eyes  were  calm  as  if  he,  too,  were  bearing 
a  cross  up  Calvary's  rugged  height.  The 
surgeon's  gown  he  wore  fell  in  loose  folds 
about  him,  as  he  stood  in  the  doorway.  He 

120 


The  Fourth  Physician 

drew  Warren  toward  the  room  where  the 
child  lay. 

"  Come,  Bob ! "  he  whispered.  "  We  may 
at  least  close  those  baby  eyes  —  " 

"  You  don't  mean  —  " 

'  Yes.     She  is  leaving  us." 

"But  the  discovery  —  your  discovery, 
Shepherd!" 

"  Useless  —  worse  than  useless !  If  we  only 
had  the  time  I  wasted!"  Then  a  gleam  of 
hope  lighted  his  face.  "  Bob,"  he  implored, 
"you  can  do  something!  You,  of  all  the 
men  on  earth!  Come  and  save  her!  Save 
her!" 


121 


The  Fourth  Physician 

X 

"T/'ASSAH,  Ah'se  hadder  lot  of  deal- 
•*•  in's  wid  doctahs!  'Low  me  ter  take 
yo'  beavah,  sah!"  And  Hilary  extended 
his  hand  for  the  important-looking  hat  that 
Dr.  Kindtlieb  wore  when  he  entered  Mary 
Walker's  home.  "  Ah  reckon  you  is  heeard 
ob  Doctah  Fred'rick  —  Doctah  Fred'rick  ob 
Hanovah  County,  sah  ? " 

"  No,  I  think  not.  It  iss  Dr.  Shepherd  I 
wish  to  find.  Iss  he  here?" 

"Oh,  yassah,  he  heah!  Ah'll  jes'  'nounce 
yo'  'ribal,  sah !  Shall  Ah  mention  any  name 
in  pa'tic'lah  —  er  maybe  he  expectin'  you?" 

"My  name  is  Kindtlieb  —  Dr.  Kindtlieb." 

"Name  quite  f'miliah,  sah!  Marse  Cal- 
endah  —  de  Gunnel — onct  spoke  ob  you. 
'Scuse  me  whilest  Ah  'prise  Doctah  Shep- 
herd you  is  heah."  He  tapped  lightly  on  the 
door,  which  Miss  Lewis  opened.  "  Will  you 

122 


The  Fourth  Physician 

kinely  'nounce  ter  Doctah  Shepherd  de 
'ribal  of  Doctah  —  Doctah  —  oh,  de  famous 
German  doctah,  you  know,  ma'm ! " 

The  two  physicians  in  the  tiny  bedroom 
heard  what  Hilary  said,  and  came  to  the 
door. 

"Dr.  Kindtlieb!"  Shepherd  exclaimed  in 
astonishment. 

"Not  expecting  me,  I  seel  My  blunder 
in  taking  the  wrong  card  made  it  possible  to 
join  you  here.  And  you  haf  Dr.  Warren 
also  with  you!"  Incidentally,  he  inquired 
of  the  sick  child  as  if  her  recovery  already 
was  assured.  Then  he  scanned  their  faces 
more  closely.  "Ah,  I  see  it  iss  not  so  well 
with  her!" 

Shepherd  looked  steadily  into  his  eyes. 

"  She  is  dying,"  he  said. 

"  But  the  discovery !  You  haf  not  admin- 
istered it?" 

"Yes.     It  is  a  failure!" 

"  Will  you  see  her,  Dr.  Kindtlieb? "  War- 

123 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ren's  eager  voice  begged,  as  he  turned  to  the 
mighty  foreigner. 

"Ah,  yes!  Indeed,  I  will!"  He  took 
Warren's  arm,  and  followed  by  the  crushed 
and  humiliated  Shepherd  they  passed  into 
the  child's  room. 

It  was  not  until  they  had  gone  that  Hilary 
seemed  to  realize  the  hopelessness  of  the  situ- 
ation. He  was  stupefied  with  astonishment, 
and  Miss  Lewis  found  him  shaking  his  head 
gloomily.  But  when  he  saw  her,  he  bright- 
ened up  in  his  quick,  responsive  way. 

'Yassum;  dat's  de  big  German  doctah. 
How  did  he  git  heah  ?  Pray  ah! " 

"  But  even  he  can  do  nothing  now! " 

"Ah  reckon  you  is  mistaken  'bout  dat, 
ma'm!  You'll  see!  De  little  sick  chile 
gwine  git  well!  Thousan'  times  de  Lawd 
is  answahed  dis  ole  niggah's  suppercations. 
You  sho'ly  ain't  gittin'  de  idear  He  gwine 
turn  no  deaf  ear  ter  Little  Miss  —  let  'lone 
Marse  Calendah!" 

124 


The  Fourth  Physician 

In  a  pitiably  short  while  the  three  physi- 
cians, in  single  file,  walked  slowly  from  the 
scene  of  the  heart-breaking,  heart-gladden- 
ing combat  as  old  and  as  mysterious  as  life 
itself. 

"  You  were  right,  Dr.  Shepherd  —  ah,  yes, 
quite  right  1  Nothing  can  save  her  now." 
Dr.  Kindtlieb  took  up  his  hat,  which  Hilary 
had  forgotten  to  hand  him.  "Come,  my 
car  iss  waiting  below !  With  haste,  there  yet 
iss  time  to  catch  the  midnight  train! " 

"The  midnight  train?"  Shepherd  re- 
peated vaguely. 

"  Yes.  You  haf  done  what  you  could  for 
the  child.  It  iss  important  that  we  take  that 
train,  else  we  will  be  too  late  to  announce 
your  discovery." 

"  I  have  no  discovery  to  announce.  It  is 
a  failure." 

"Ah,  perhaps  it  iss  not  so  bad  as  that! 
Come,  let  us  go ! " 

A  new  and  biting  fear  laid  hold  of  War- 

125 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ren,  as  he  watched  closely  the  friend  of  his 
boyhood. 

"We  must  fight  it  out,  Livingston!  Our 
duty  lies  here! " 

Dr.  Kindtlieb  stood  waiting.  Shepherd 
made  a  step  as  if  to  join  him,  then  looked  be- 
seechingly to  Warren,  and  hesitated.  But 
it  was  not  until  he  saw  the  strange,  compel- 
ling face  of  Calendar  Bedford's  house  serv- 
ant that  he  turned  resolutely  and  began 
again  his  fight  for  the  life  of  the  child. 


126 


The  Fourth  Physician 


XI 

AS  Hilary  had  hinted  to  Miss  Lewis,  vis- 
itors at  Colonel  Bedford's  house  some- 
times forgot  that  they  had  homes  of  their 
own.  It  was  late  when  the  last  guest  left 
that  Christmas  Eve,  and  neither  Elizabeth 
nor  her  father  waited  to  change  the  clothes 
they  wore,  but  wrapping  themselves  warmly 
were  soon  on  their  way  to  Mary  Walker's 
home  in  the  city's  back  yard. 

Hilary  joined  them  at  the  foot  of  the 
rickety  stairs. 

"  Ah  suttinly  glad  you-all  is  come,  Marse 
Calendah ! "  he  cried,  as  he  unbolted  the  car 
door. 

"  How  is  the  child? "  was  his  master's  first 
question. 

"Ah  reckon  de  doctahs  is  considahble 
worried,  sah.  But  Ah  is  suah  she  gwine  git 
well."  He  followed  them  up  the  steps,  and 

127 


The  Fourth  Physician 

with  almost  boyish  earnestness  directed  their 
attention  to  the  lighted  tree. 

"Well,  sah!"  and  he  stood  admiring  the 
gay  shapeliness  of  the  emblem  of  the  Day 
of  the  Birth  and  the  Day  of  the  Death. 
"Well,  sah,  ain'  dis  bringin'  de  ole-time 
Chris'mus  sperrit  right  inter  dis  place  —  dis 
place  what  need  us  Bedfordses  er  heap  mo' 
dan  Hanover  County  evah  did  need  us! " 

"Is  Dr.  Warren  here?"  Elizabeth  asked 
him. 

'Yassum,  he  heah.  All  ob  'em  is  in  dat 
room  ovah  yandah  wid  de  little  sick  chile  an' 
her  ma." 

Once  more  he  had  forgotten  the  suffering 
of  the  world  under  the  influence  of  the  Tree. 

"Marse  Calendah,  Ah  'spose  you  plumb 
fohgot  dat  Chris'mus  summon  you  heah  me 
preach  de  yeah  befo'  we  come  up  heah?  Well, 
sah,  when  Ah  writ  dat  summon — "  He 
paused  and  glanced  apprehensively  at  Eliza- 
beth. "Dat  is  ter  say,  when  Ah  compose 

128 


The  Fourth  Physician 

dat  summon,  Ah  wahn't  pos'tive  hit  wah 
soun'  the-losophy.  Sence  dat  time,  Ah  is 
learn'  mo'." 

The  candles  were  still  glowing  bravely, 
and  the  old  man  stood  behind  the  tree  like  a 
shadowy  high  priest  at  the  altar  of  sacrifice. 

'  Yassah,  Ah  is  suah  now,  as  Ah  'low  in 
dat  summon,  dat  all  de  mis'ry  ob  slavery  hit- 
se'f  am  mo'  dan  repaid  by  de  Chris'mus  tree, 
an'  what  us  Af'icans  —  us  niggahs,  sah  —  is 
learn*  ob  de  meanin'  ob  de  Tree!  Ah  kin 
jes'  see  dem  baby  eyes  er-shinin'  when  her 
ma  light  dese  candles  foh  her  in  de  mawnin' !" 

Elizabeth  smiled  over  to  him,  as  she  un- 
packed the  hamper  he  had  brought.  It  had 
been  a  night  of  surprises  for  Dr.  Warren, 
and  the  picture  they  made  as  he  came  back 
into  the  room  was  not  the  least  of  them. 

"How  is  little  Jeannette?"  Bedford 
asked,  their  greetings  over. 

"  She  is  very  low.  I  am  sorry  to  say  there 
is  no  hope  for  her  now." 

129 


The  Fourth  Physician 

Elizabeth  stood  transfixed.  Had  not 
Hilary  himself  assured  her  that  Jeannette 
would  soon  be  well  ?  Through  the  tears  that 
sprang  to  her  eyes,  she  looked  at  him  as  a 
child  might  look  in  demanding  an  explana- 
tion of  something  it  could  not  understand. 

"  She  is  sinking  rapidly,"  Warren  con- 
tinued. 

"  Father! "  Elizabeth  whispered.  "  If  only 
I  could  have  induced  him  to  come ! "  Then 
she  went  back  to  her  work  at  the  hamper. 

"  She  has  been  very  unhappy  that  Dr. 
Shepherd  was  unwilling  to  come,"  Bedford 
explained  to  Warren. 

"But  he  iconic!" 

"  Shepherd?     Is  Livingston  here?" 

'Yes.  He  has  made  a  gallant  fight  —  a 
magnificent  sacrifice!  Let  us  save  your 
daughter,  for  to-night  at  least,  the  disap- 
pointment of  knowing  that  his  discovery  has 
failed!" 

Elizabeth  joined  them,  holding  a  brightly 

130 


The  Fourth  Physician 

colored  little  garment  in  her  hand.  In  the 
light  from  Hilary's  candles,  Warren  saw  a 
tear  fall  upon  it. 

"  Is  there  no  hope  at  all? " 

"  I'm  afraid  not,  Miss  Bedford.  She  has 
had  all  that  skill,  and  sympathy,  and  all  that 
—  love  could  offer ! " 

"Don*  let  'em  disoncourage  you,  Little 
Miss !  Hit  am  true  dat  all  three  doctahs  hab 
give  her  up,  but  dere  am  yet  Another!  De 
mantle  ob  His  lore  an'  mercy  am  sheltahin' 
dat  little  chile!  Yassum,  de  Fou'th  Physi- 
cian hab  taken  de  case ! " 

Poor,  faithful  servant,  a  few  genera- 
tions set  apart  from  the  darkness  of  the  jun- 
gle, yet  in  hope  and  love  and  trust  the  richest 
of  those  within  that  wretched  home  that 
Death  had  marked! 


131 


The  Fourth  Physician 

XII 

WE  are  not  keeping  you  from  your  pa- 
tient, Dr.  Warren?" 

"  Not  at  all,  Colonel  Bedford.  For  some 
reason,  not  clear  to  me,  the  physician  who 
has  charge  of  the  case  has  asked  to  be  alone 
with  the  child  and  her  mother.  I  am  to  re- 
turn to  them  at  midnight." 

Bedford  consulted  his  watch. 

"  It  is  nearly  midnight  now." 

"  We  don't  need  watches  over  here  in  our 
part  of  the  city,  to  tell  when  midnight 
comes." 

"No?" 

"  An  unknown  man  with  a  soul  has  given 
to  the  little  Mission  Church  in  this  desperate, 
struggling  place  a  wonderful  chime  of  bells. 
They  ring  at  midnight."  And  he  told  them 
feelingly  how  little  Jeannette  used  to  beg 
him,  upon  his  occasional  visits,  for  fairy 

132 


The  Fourth  Physician 

stories  —  stories  that  were  never  complete 
unless  the  chimes  had  a  part.  His  ingenuity 
exhausted,  one  day  he  had  protested  against 
doctoring  up  into  modern  form  the  old- 
fashioned  tales  of  his  youth,  and  graciously 
she  had  explained : 

"'Ittle  fairies  isn't  dot  bells  'ike  ours, 
'tause  ours  is  boo'fler  'an  any  music  'at  ever 
was!" 

As  Hilary  leaned  forward  over  his  tree, 
drinking  deeply  of  every  word,  the  chime 
pealed  out  the  glad  sweet  story  of  the  Birth 
in  the  Manger.  At  the  first  note,  Dr.  War- 
ren bowed  with  professional  brevity  and 
answered  its  summons. 

"Come,  Elizabeth,"  Bedford  said  to  his 
daughter,  "we  can  do  nothing  more.  I 
shall  return  to-morrow." 

Hilary  brought  their  wraps,  but  made  no 
move  himself  to  go. 

"  We  are  ready,  Hilary." 

133 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Ah  hopes  you  kin  spare  me  f  oh  de  res'  ob 
de  evenin',  Marse  Calendah.  Ah'se  gwine 
stick  hit  out  right  heah! " 

Bedford  nodded,  as  he  and  his  daughter 
went  out  into  the  bitter  night. 

Hilary  began  to  put  out  the  candles  on 
the  tree.  Several  had  been  slowly  ex- 
tinguished when  he  paused  in  deep  medita- 
tion, and  lighted  them  all  again.  Then,  as 
if  answering  a  summons,  he  went  confidently 
into  the  room  where  the  child  lay.  Dr. 
Shepherd  held  the  little  patient  tenderly  in 
his  arms.  Love  was  his  weapon  now,  and  he 
knew  its  strength.  But  there  is  an  Infinite 
Love  that  is  stronger  still. 

The  bells  were  yet  ringing  in  a  melody  of 
annunciation — "Unto  you  a  Child  is 
Born"  —  when  little  Jeannette  opened  her 
baby  eyes,  and  the  smile  of  mystery  fell 
lightly  upon  the  wan,  white  face. 

And  so  it  happened  that  while  the  mother 

134 


The  Fourth  Physician 

stood  mutely  by,  as  she  who  stood  at  the  foot 
of  the  Cross,  the  child's  soul  wandered  out, 
high  above  the  joyous  bells,  from  the  little 
body  that  Livingston  Shepherd  held  ten- 
derly in  his  arms. 


135 


The  Fourth  Physician 

XIII 

HRISTMAS  morning  was  gray  and 
cold.  Hilary  stood  waiting  in  his  mas- 
ter's breakfast  room.  All  his  life  he  had 
waited,  patiently,  loyally,  devotedly.  Clasp- 
ing his  hands  behind  the  bent  old  back,  he 
walked  slowly  to  the  eastern  window  and 
looked  out  upon  the  bleakness  of  the  lake. 
Presently  he  returned  to  the  table  and  re- 
arranged the  sprays  of  holly  at  the  two 
plates. 

"  All  mah  life  Ah  is  put  mah  trus'  in  You, 
deah  Lawd!"  he  murmured.  "But  I  reckon 
dere  am  things  hit  wah  nevah  intended  dat 
Ah  should  know." 

The  wide,  old-fashioned  door  swung  open, 
and  Calendar  Bedford  followed  Elizabeth 
into  the  room.  He  glanced  into  the  face  of 
his  servant  as  he  stood  at  the  master's  chair 
ready  to  do  him  honor  when  he,  in  turn,  had 
seated  his  daughter.  He  noticed  the  old 

136 


The  Fourth  Physician 

man's  tired,  worn  features,  and  his  heart 
sank.  Somehow  he  had  counted  on  Hilary 
to  comfort  him  that  day. 

"Merry  Christmas,  Hilary!"  he  cried 
with  forced  good  cheer. 

"Same  ter  you,  sah!"  To  be  near  his 
master  had  always  raised  the  old  man's 
spirits.  "Chris'mus  gift,  Little  Miss!"  he 
called  across  the  table,  true  to  the  old  South- 
ern custom. 

Several  times  during  breakfast,  Bedford 
seemed  about  to  speak  upon  a  subject  of  mo- 
ment. 

"My  child,"  he  now  began,  when  some- 
thing directed  his  attention  to  Hilary.  His 
black  face  was  illuminated  as  if  on  this  deso- 
late Christmas  morning  the  sun  had  risen  in 
Calendar  Bedford's  breakfast  room. 

"  De  Lawd  be  praise' !  De  blessed,  blessed 
Lawd!" 

Bedford  hurried  to  his  side. 

"  Hilary !    What  is  it,  Hilary  ? " 

137 


The  Fourth  Physician 

At  first  his  servant  did  not  seem  to  hear; 
then  he  was  overwhelmed  with  embarrass- 
ment. 

"Fohgive  me,  Marse  Calendah!"  he 
begged.  '  Yo'  ole  niggah  plumb  fohgot 
hisse'f !  What  kin  Ah  bring  you,  sah  ? "  He 
caught  up  the  tray  —  symbol  of  his  servi- 
tude—  and  again  was  the  deferential  house- 
man. 

"  Hilary,"  Bedford  said  slowly,  as  though 
measuring  each  word.  '  You  are  the  best 
man  I  ever  knew ! " 

"You  fohgits  yo'se'f,  too,  Marse  Calen- 
dah!" he  protested  in  his  low,  laughing 
voice,  but  realizing  that  he  had  been  en- 
throned—  his  whole  life  crowned  —  in  one 
brief  sentence.  Then  he  hurried  from  the 
room. 

"  Elizabeth,"  Bedford  resumed,  "  there  is 
something  I  must  tell  you;  you  should  have 
known  it  last  night.  It  is  about  Dr.  Shep- 
herd —  about  Livingston." 

138 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"  Not  now! "  she  begged,  as  she  rose  from 
the  table.  "  I  could  not  bear  it ! " 

"  You  are  wrong,  my  child.  It  will  give 
you  happiness  to  know." 

"  Nothing  can  do  that ! "  And  she  quickly 
left  him. 


J39 


The  Fourth  Physician 


XIV 

IT  was  nearly  noon  when  Elizabeth  heard 
the  sound  of  Hilary's  voice,  and,  seeking 
her  father,  followed  it.  She  was  well  within 
the  living-room  before  she  realized  that  Dr. 
Shepherd  was  there. 

'Yassah,  Marse  Calendah  gone  ovah  on 
de  Wes'  Side !  But  Little  Miss  is  heah." 

"  Do  you  think  she  would  be  willing  to  see 
me?" 

"See  you?  Cou'se  she  see  you !  Efevah 
she  gwine  be  proud  ter  see  you,  hit's  right 
now !  Why,  heah  she  is ! " 

"Elizabeth,  will  you  give  me  a  few 
minutes  ? "  It  was  as  if  a  different  man  had 
spoken. 

"  I  thought  you  upon  your  way  to  New 
York,"  she  answered  coldly. 

"I  — I  did  not  go." 

140 


The  Fourth  Physician 

She  shrank  from  him. 

"  You  were  here,  and  you  let  her  die! " 

She  started  to  leave,  but  Hilary  stood 
squarely  in  the  doorway.  Clearly  he  did  not 
intend  that  she  should  pass. 

"She  is  dead!  You  could  have  saved 
her!" 

He  bowed  his  head. 

"Perhaps;  if  only  I  had  gone  when  you 
asked  me  —  when  I  should  have  gone!" 

"Pahdon  me,  Little  Miss;  kin  Ah  arsk 
you  a  question?"  Hilary  no  longer  stood 
at  the  door.  "Dere's  sech  er  lot  ob  things 
been  happ'nin'  heah  lately,  maybe  ole  niggah 
ain'  seein'  jes'  straight!  Wahn't  you  ovah 
on  de  Wes'  Side  wid  Marse  Calendah  an' 
me,  an'  de  res'  ob  'em,  las'  night,  or  dis 
mawnin'  —  er  whenevah  midnight  am  ?  Hit 
suttinly  'peared  like  ter  me  you  wah  wid  us 
all  at  little  Jeannette's  ma's  1 " 

"You  were  there!"  Shepherd  exclaimed, 
turning  to  Elizabeth. 

141 


The  Fourth  Physician 

'  Yassah;  her  an'  Marse  Calendah  an'  me! 
All  froo  de  long  night  Ah  wondahed  why  de 
Lawd  hide  His  face  from  us,  an'  hit  wah  not 
till  Marse  Calendah  come  down  dis  mawnin' 
dat  Ah  suddenly  see  de  meanin'  ob  hit  all! " 
He  felt  that  an  explanation  was  due  to  Dr. 
Shepherd.  :<  You  see,  sah,  Marse  Calendah 
allus  did  somehow  stim'late  dis  ole  niggah's 
faith!  None  ob  us  had  'zactly  undahstood 
dat  case.  De  Blessed  Physician  reach'  out 
His  han'  in  dat  po'  little  home  las'  night,  an' 
de  sick  wah  healed! " 

"She  died!"  Elizabeth's  voice  was  deep 
with  emotion,  as  she  looked  steadily  into  Dr. 
Shepherd's  face. 

'  Yassum,"  Hilary  agreed  simply.  "  He 
tooken  de  chile — jes'  like  He  intended  ter 
all  de  time!  She's  wid  Him  dis  blessed 
Chris'mus  mawnin' !  No  man  on  earf '  -  -  not 
eben  Doctah  Fred'rick  hisse'f — evah 
wucked  mo'  faithful  dan  Doctah  Shepherd 
did!" 

142 


Can't  you  see,  sahr     You  wah  de  patient,  an'  you  am  healed  !  '' 

[Page  143] 


The  Fourth  Physician 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Elizabeth  de- 
manded earnestly. 

"  Ah  means  dat  Doctah  Shepherd  wah  wid 
us  in  dat  mis'able  place  las'  night,  strivin' 
wid  all  ob  his  skill  —  wid  all  ob  his  heart  — 
ter  save  de  chile.  Ef  hit  hadder  been  in- 
tended dat  she  be  spared,  de  miracle  would 
hab  been  entrusted  ter  him.  But  De  Mars- 
tah  wanted  her!  As  He  caught  de  sweet 
little  sperrit  ter  His  breast,  He  reach  fo'th 
His  han'  an'  heal  de  sick! " 

Shepherd  seemed  to  be  looking  out 
through  the  wreckage  of  his  soul  into  the 
negro's  inspired  eyes. 

"  Can't  you  see,  sah?  You  wah  de  patient, 
an'  you  am  healed!  You  is  made  de  one 
great  discov'ry!" 

The  young  physician  straightened  him- 
self, like  one  who  adjusts  his  shoulders  to  a 
new  and  welcome  burden.  Then  he  bowed 
his  head  as  if  a  benediction  were  being  said, 
and  with  closed  eyes  groped  his  way  to  Hil- 

143 


The  Fourth  Physician 

ary  Brooks.  Reverently  he  caught  the  hard, 
black  hand  in  his,  and  a  sob  —  the  sob  of  a 
strong,  repentant  soul  —  rose  from  his  heart. 
Elizabeth's  face  caught  the  glory  of  the 
light  her  father's  servant  had  seen. 


THE    END 


